UFC 309 Predictions: Two Unanimous Picks in New York … But Who?

The UFC is back in the “Big Apple” this week with the heavyweight title on the line in a highly anticipated matchup.

UFC 309 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Hulu/FX, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Get mainboard pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, plus additional analysis below.

James Llontop vs. Mauricio Ruffy

Records: Llontop (14-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC), Luffy (10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)

Last five: Llontop 2-3, Luffy 5-0

Department: Lightweight

Rankings: No

Odds (from UFC 11.15.24): Llontop +600, Luffy -900

Junkie pick results: Luffy 11, Llontop 0

Viviane Araujo vs. Karine Silva

Records: Araujo (12-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC), Silva (18-4 MMA, 4-0 UFC)

Last five: Araujo 2-3, Silva 5-0

Department: Women’s Flyweight

Rankings: Silva no. 14

Odds (from UFC 11.15.24): Araujo +240, Silva -300

Junkie pick results: Silva 10, Araujo 1

Paul Craig vs. Bo Nickal

Records: Craig (17-8-1 MMA, 9-8-1 UFC), Nickal (6-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC)

Last five: Craig 2-3, Nickal 5-0

Department: Middle weight

Rankings: No

Odds (from UFC 11.15.24): Craig +850, Nickal -1450

Junkie pick results: Nickal 10, Craig 1

Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira

Records: Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC), Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC)

Last five: Chandler 2-3, Oliveira 3-2

Department: Lightweight

Locations: Oliveira No. 3, Chandler No. 14

Odds (from UFC 11.15.24): Chandler +210, Oliveira -260

Junkie pick results: Oliveira 8, Chandler 3

Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic

Records: Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC), Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC)

Last five: Jones 5-0, Miocic 2-3

Department: Heavy weight

Rankings: Jones No. 1 heavyweight, No. 5 pound-for-pound

Odds (from UFC 11.15.24): Jones -700, Miocic +500

Junkie pick results: Jones 11, Miocic 0

Preliminary card selections

Although they don’t count towards the rankings, the MMA Junkie staff still picks the fights in the lead-up. Here are the results:

• Veronica Hardy vs. Edward Moura: Hardy 8, Moura 3

• Oban Elliott vs. Basil Hafez: Elliott 8, Hafez 3

• Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Mickey Gall: Brahimaj 9, Gall 2

• Jhonata Diniz vs. Marcin Tybura: Diniz 9, Tybura 2

• David Onama vs. Robert Romero: Onama 11, Romero 0

• Damon Jackson vs. Jim Miller: Miller 9, Jackson 2

• Eryk Anders vs. Chris Weidman: Anders 7, Weidman 4

• Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee: Martinez 7, McGhee 4

See all the key card picks below.

(Click here to open a PDF file of the employee-selected grid in a separate window.)

For more on the card, visit the MMA Junkies event hub for UFC 309.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 309 Predictions: Two Unanimous Picks in New York … But Who?