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 long-awaited matchup.

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

Get main card pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below.

James Llontop vs. Mauricio Ruffy

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

Past five: Llontop 2-3, Ruffy 5-0

Division: Lightweight

Rankings: None

Odds (as of UFC 11.15.24): Llontop +600, Ruffy -900

Junkie pick results: Ruffy 11, Llontop 0

Viviane Araujo vs. Karine Silva

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

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

Division: Women’s flyweight

Rankings: Silva No. 14

Odds (as of 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)

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

Division: Middleweight

Rankings: None

Odds (as of 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)

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

Division: Lightweight

Rankings: Oliveira No. 3, Chandler No. 14

Odds (as of 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)

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

Division: Heavyweight

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

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

Junkie pick results: Jones 11, Miocic 0

Preliminary card picks

Although they don’t count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:

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

• Oban Elliott vs. Bassil 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. Roberto 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

Check out all the main card picks below.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 309 predictions: Two unanimous picks in New York … but who?