Martin picks up shutout as Hurricanes blank Senators

The Ottawa Senators were stonewalled by the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

The UFC’s heavyweight title is on the line Saturday in the main event of the organization’s return to the iconic Madison Square Garden. What’s not to love?

Jon Jones returns from a year-and-a-half layoff from injury to defend his heavyweight title for the first time when he takes on former champion Stipe Miocic who holds the record for most title defences in the division’s history.

Jones is a polarizing figure in mixed martial arts while simultaneously being the consensus greatest of all-time. The 37-year-old has said this fight with Miocic is personal, even though the 42-year-old former champion has been as softspoken and sportsmanlike as they come in the build up.

Adding a new layer of intrigue to an already tense atmosphere has been the presence of Tom Aspinall during fight week. The popular interim heavyweight champion was brought in as the official backup fighter for the headline bout.

Aspinall, like everyone watching around the globe Saturday, won’t have any control over the outcome of the main event, though, when Jones and Miocic finally go toe to toe in a matchup fight fans have pondered for years.

The co-main event features a five-round lightweight rematch between two of the sport’s most exciting fighters when former 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira takes on Michael Chandler makes his third appearance at MSG in just his sixth UFC fight.

A middleweight bout scheduled for the prelims between former champion Chris Weidman and Eryk Anders was cancelled after Anders came down with an illness.

Watch UFC 309 on Sportsnet+

Heavyweight champion Jon Jones returns to face Stipe Miocic plus Charles Oliveira takes on Michael Chandler in a rematch from Madison Square Garden. Watch UFC 309 on Saturday with prelim coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and pay-per-view main card starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

Purchase the event

Stick here throughout the night for complete results plus highlights. Official UFC 309 bout order below:

MAIN CARD

— Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic (for heavyweight title)

— Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler (five rounds)

— Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig

— Viviane Araújo vs. Karine Silva

— Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop

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PRELIMINARY CARD

Marcus McGhee def. Jonathan Martinez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

These two slick southpaws had a tactical outing with McGhee leading the dance for the first half until Martinez began turning up the tempo late in the second round of this bantamweight scrap. McGhee limped back to his corner after the second round when Martinez found a home for his patented leg kicks. Martinez hurt McGhee again in the third but McGhee had won the first two rounds and held on, backpedaling for much of the final round.

~~— Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders~~

Jim Miller def. Damon Jackson by submission (arm-in guillotine choke) at 2:43 of Round 1

Miller added to his all-time UFC wins record, picking up his 27th victory and his 19th stoppage win in the UFC by locking up a terrific arm-in guillotine choke midway through the opening round on Jackson. Charles Oliveira, who fights later tonight, holds the record with 20 stoppage wins. Jackson took off his gloves and left them in the Octagon after the loss, indicating his retirement.

David Onama def. Roberto Romero by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Romero took this fight on short notice after Onama’s original opponent, Lucas Almeida, withdrew with an illness earlier in the week and Romero showed he belongs in the big show. Despite being a huge underdog, Romero imposed his will and rocked Onama in the opening round before Onama later returned the favour. Onama’s UFC experience showed the longer the fight went on. Although there’s a strong argument Romero won the first round, Onama swept the scorecards.

Marcin Tybura def. Jhonata Diniz by technical knockout (doctor’s stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 2

Diniz is a high-level former kickboxer but didn’t have the ground game to keep up with a top-10 heavyweight contender like Tybura who controlled where the fight took place and battered Diniz with elbows from mount at the end of Round 2. Diniz was cut open on both eyelids and wobbled as he was helped to his corner and the doctor stopped the bout. Diniz had been scheduled to face Derrick Lewis in Edmonton at the beginning of the month but that bout was cancelled at the last minute when Lewis fell ill and the UFC re-booked Diniz for MSG.

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Ramiz Brahimaj def. Mickey Gall by knockout at 2:55 of Round 1

Gall was looking solid early, landing some decent one-twos on the feet but Brahimaj used feints nicely and put Gall down, ending a combination with a flush right hand.

Oban Elliot def. Bassil Hafez by knockout at 0:40 of Round 3

The promising welterweights started slowly with Elliot using a kick-heavy attack and Hafez loading up on power shots. Hafez made a positive impression on UFC fans by taking Jack Della Maddalena to a split decision in his short-notice debut last summer but hasn’t been able to capitalize one that momentum or turn it into a winning streak. Elliott landed a massive overhand right as he slipped a jab early in the final round. A great finish for the Welshman who has started his UFC career 3-0 with all three wins coming in 2024.

Eduarda Moura def. Veronica Hardy by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Moura bounced back from her first pro loss and snapped Hardy’s three-fight winning streak. Even though hardy landed more significant strikes throughout, Mourna pulled ahead by using her size and strength to her advantage.