‘Medical issues’, weight loss force last-minute changes to both UFC 309 main card and ‘prelims’ lineup

On By Littum

Here we go again.

Just two days before the UFC 309 pay-per-view (PPV) event, which takes place this Saturday. night (Nov. 16, 2024) at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the promotion has been forced to make a few changes to both its main card and preliminary card lineup.

The lightweight curtain-raiser between Mauricio Ruffy and James Llontop scheduled to open the PPV main card has now been changed to a catchweight contest at 165 pounds; however, the promotion did not reveal the circumstances behind the decision.

Additionally, “medical issues” have forced Lucas Almeida out of his opening card bout against David Onama. Taking over for the Brazilian featherweight division is newcomer and 24-year Combate Global veteran Roberto “El Charro Negro” Romero. Their reworked bout will be contested at 155 pounds.

Check out the revised UFC 309 fight card and PPV lineup here.


LIVE! Watch UFC 309 PPV on ESPN+ here!

THE LEGACY ON THE LINE! The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to “The Big Apple” in New York, NY on Saturday, November 16, 2024, with the highly anticipated, legacy-defining Heavyweight showdown between reigning division champion, Jon Joneswho seeks to ride off into the sunset as the bonafide GED at the expense of the former king pin, Stipe Miocic. In UFC 309’s pay-per-view (PPV) co-headliner from inside Madison Square Garden, former lightweight champion, Charles Oliveirawill drive it back with Michael Chandlerwho have sat on the sidelines and waited without success Conor McGregors ill-fated comeback. UFC 309 will also feature exciting returns from super prospects Mauricio Ruffy and Bo Nickal (in separate matches) and much more! UFC 309s start time is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (Prelims Board) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).

Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-smashing action!

MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of it all UFC 309 fight card right herestarting with the early To check out the latest and greatest UFC 309: “Jones vs. Miocic” news and notes, be sure to visit our extensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 309 fight card and PPV lineup, click here.