“Announcement of the mixed martial arts tournament, which will take place on the night of November 16-17”, — write: sport.ua
In addition, fans will see an intriguing rematch between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler, the promising Beau Nickal and a clash of veterans Chris Weidman and Eric Anders.
John Jones (27-1, USA) – Stipe Miocic (20-4, USA)
If we put aside the sports component, then on paper we have an interesting battle of legendary fighters, which would decorate any number UFC tournament. If you look at the age and the last fights of the athletes, doubts arise – maybe this fight made sense five years ago, but not now.
Jones disappeared from the radar in February 2020 and returned to the Octagon only three years later – he was immediately given a title fight with the Frenchman Cyril Gan. The former champion took advantage of the opportunity – defeated his opponent in the first round and returned the UFC belt. Whether it is fair or not – there is no point in arguing, but the same Briton Tom Aspinall still remained with the title of interim champion, although he repeatedly stated that he was ready to fight with Jones.
Miocic’s situation is even more interesting – in March 2021, he lost the championship title to Cameroonian Francis Ngannou and did not appear in the Octagon again. Actually, this is the whole intrigue of the upcoming meeting. Jones has been seen in the Octagon recently, but the form of the 42-year-old Miocic raises questions.
There is a high probability that the fight will last all five rounds – it is unlikely that the fighters will aggressively climb forward and take reckless risks. The champion will try to take control of the center of the octagon, and thanks to the advantage in the striking arsenal, he will be able to calmly score points. On the floor, Miocic’s chances are also low – even the strongest fighters of the organization have not been able to oppose Jones.
Stipe has always been famous for his powerful punches and speed of movement, but the long vacation could not but affect the form of the contender. For the worse. If Miocic can successfully defend against takedowns and not be physically drained in five rounds, he will have a chance to compete for a points victory. We consider the most likely scenario to be a sure victory for Jones – a crushing decision by the referee.
Charles Oliveira (34-10, Brazil) – Michael Chandler (23-8, USA)
The fighters will hold a rematch – in May 2021, Oliveira knocked out Chandler in the second round. Since then, Michael had three more fights (one win, two losses) and did not appear in the octagon for two years. Charles did not waste time – he defended the title in a fight with Dustin Poirier, lost it in the next fight due to exceeding the weight category limit, again entered the fight for the champion’s belt, but lost to the Russian Islam Makhachev.
If there is a chance that the fight will go the whole distance, then it is minimal. Chandler will have a chance in the first round – you need to put pressure on the favorite, not stand still, constantly press and try to knock out the opponent. Michael’s form raises huge questions and there are fears whether he will be enough for three rounds.
Oliveira is a versatile fighter who is famous for his coolness, knows how to adapt to his opponent and turn the toughest fights in his favor. The Brazilian has a powerful jab, incredible jiu-jitsu skills and should take this fight. Probably, Chandler will rush to attack the opponent from the first minutes, and in this case, the main task of Charles is to withstand this pressure and finish the fight in his favor, without waiting for the referee’s decision.
Beau Nickal (6-0, USA) – Paul Craig (17-8-1, Scotland)
Bo Nickal had three fights in the UFC and won three victories by various means – technical knockout, choke and triangle. Paul Craig is a true veteran of the organization (he debuted in 2016) and is unlikely to claim serious achievements. Paul is a good fighter and can create problems for promising and daring athletes, but the upcoming fight is unlikely to bring him success.
The Scotsman likes to operate in the ground, while the work in the rack is definitely not different in stability. Craig has solid wrestling skills, but does not defend well against takedowns. A huge number of battles and heavy defeats left an imprint on the veteran’s health.
Nikal is the favorite in this match and it is not surprising. The American won the World Championship in freestyle wrestling, and it is in this element that he feels like a fish in water. Because Nikal usually delivers several blows, after which he gets close to the opponent and takes him to the ground.
On Craig’s side, there is solid experience, but injuries and a broken chin do not allow us to believe in the victory of the Scotsman. Nikal is eight years younger, has a great wrestling past, and also has the motivation to prove himself. For the American, the upcoming fight will be a great test, but he should not suffer any significant problems.
Chris Weidman (16-7, USA) – Eric Anders (16-8, USA)
Veterans of the organization approach the match with different moods. Chris Weidman’s best years are far behind him – a decade ago he was a title holder and a formidable threat in his division. In 2021, he injured his leg, tried to heal it for a long time and returned to the octagon only in June 2023. Since then, he has played two matches – one win, one loss.
Eric Anders has never grabbed stars from the sky, and now he is at risk of being fired from the organization. The fighter is 37 years old, in the last five fights he lost three times. A victory over the famous Chris (who has long since passed his peak) will allow Eric to stay in the UFC for a little longer.
Weidman has excellent striking technique and excellent grappling skills. If Chris can keep the opponent at a distance or control him on the ground, then he will have a good chance to win. Anders is famous for his physical strength and in the future fight he should impose his aggressive style, take control of the center of the octagon and try to go to close range. Chris has had more big-name opponents and tough fights, so experience is definitely on his side.
Bookmakers do not know who to prefer and consider the chances of the fighters to be approximately equal. If Weidman doesn’t miss anything difficult, he can win by decision. Otherwise, it makes sense to expect a knockout from Anders.
The main card
John Jones (27-1) – Stipe Miocic (20-4)
Charles Oliveira (34-10) – Michael Chandler (23-8)
Beau Nickal (6-0) – Paul Craig (17-8-1)
Karin Silva (18-4) – Vivien Araujo (12-6)
Mauricio Ruffi (10-1) – James Llontop (14-4)
Previous Card
Jonathan Martinez (19-5) – Marcus McGee (9-1)
Chris Weidman (16-7) – Eric Anders (16-8)
Jim Miller (37-18) – Damon Jackson (23-7-1)
David Onama (12-2) – Roberto Romero (8-3-1)
Marcin Tybura (25-9) – Jonata Diniz (8-0)
Mickey Gal (7-6) – Ramiz Braimai (10-5)
Oban Elliott (11-2) – Bassil Hafez (9-4-1)
Veronica Hardy (9-4-1) – Edward Moore (10-1)
