The Bigger Picture | UFC 309

After wrapping his light heavyweight career looking more beatable than he’d appeared at any other point in his career, Jones has been lights out in a pair of heavyweight appearances, showcasing his insane tactical acumen and the unique blend of skills that separates him from just about everyone else. Against Ciryl Gane last year, he went straight to his wrestling, submitting the former interim champion swiftly, and Saturday night, he took an entirely different tact in dispatching Miocic, giving him a taste of his abilities on the ground before showing “I can beat you here, too.”

The fact that he ended things with a punishing spinning back kick accentuates the point — it was the perfect attack in the moment, landed clean, and dropped Miocic, kicking off the finishing sequence to wrap up his first successful title defense.

Watch: Dana White Post-Fight Press Conference | UFC 309

He’s shown throughout his career that he’s able to break down his opponents and implement his game plans with expertise, while also exhibiting an ability to dig deep when necessary. In terms of his offensive weaponry, few, if any, have the type of arsenal Jones is able to deploy.

When you combine those elements with the strength of schedule he’s fought over his 16-year UFC career, it’s impossible not to acknowledge that “Bones” is the most skillful and intelligent competitor to ever set foot inside the Octagon.

Oliveira’s Incredible Career Arc

It sucks to say, but the idea that Oliveira was someone that would fold in tough spots or look for a way out when things started going south was based on actual events that transpired inside the Octagon, and persisted because he had never given anyone a reason to change their mind about him right up until he forced everyone to change their stance on that matter when by rallying back and beating Michael Chandler for the lightweight title at UFC 262.

Nowadays, you expect him to navigate a rough patch and come back firing, but for those of us that lived through those instances where it seemed like he didn’t want to battle through, the hairs on the back of our necks still stand up when things start going south and Oliveira is forced to show grit and resolve in order to get through to the other side.

At least that was the case for me, and it was again on Saturday night, when Chandler came out guns blazing to start the fifth round and had the former champion in a bad spot despite being dead to rights on the scorecards.

But that guy that used to wilt in those moments is gone, replaced by a driven, resilient former champion that wants nothing more than to reach the top of the mountain again. And so, despite Chandler’s best efforts, it wasn’t surprising to see Oliveira weather the storm, clamber onto his back, and salt away the victory on Saturday night.

It was, however, a reminder of how far he’s come, and what an incredible and unexpected adventure it has been.

Development Time Is Essential

Let’s be clear: he clearly beat Craig, and while it wasn’t a finish or even a blistering effort that sent his stock through the roof, it was a quality win over an experienced veteran, which is especially meaningful given that Nickal only made his pro debut in June 2022.

But he still needs work.

There is a tendency in this sport (more than others, I would argue) to want competitors to be finished products and ready to challenge for championship gold on a timeline that is largely unrealistic. Very rarely do competitors reach the UFC and then the top of their respective divisions in three years or less, and in most cases, it isn’t until athletes are in their late 20s or early 30s that they truly reach the point that they’re capable of challenging for championship gold and maintaining a place in the Top 10.

Nickal has come into the sport with a tremendous base, but there is a ton he still needs to learn and develop, and the only way to really do that is through time, reps in the gym, and stepping into the Octagon. There shouldn't be any rush to try and expedite that process or force him into matchups where he’s in over his head right now — the focus should be on development, letting him grow, and giving him every chance to become the absolute best fighter he could possibly become.

Because Nickal is a tremendous prospect, but he’s still a prospect, and sometimes, it’s important to acknowledge that these things take time.

Quick Hitters

David Onama strikes me as one of those guys that doesn’t quite understand how ridiculously talented they are or how to fully harness his considerable athletic gifts at the moment, which is scary, because the Denver-based competitor has won three straight and five of his last six in the UFC. When he figures it all out, Onama could be an absolute force.

You have to feel good for Ramiz Brahimaj, who picked up a first-round knockout win over Mickey Gall on Saturday night. A native of The Bronx, he dealt with a tumor prior to fighting on Dana White’s Contender Series and returned from a two-year absence following major neck issues earlier this year to pick up an emotional win at home over the weekend.

Oban Elliott is someone to keep a very close eye on in the welterweight division. “The Welsh Gangster” has earned three straight wins to begin his UFC career and has looked better each time out, culminating in his third-round knockout win over Bassil Hafez at UFC 309. Charismatic and confident, Elliott has the skills to back up the bravado, and he’s only going to keep getting better.

It’ll be interesting to see what comes next for Eduarda Moura, who looked good in her flyweight debut, bouncing back from her first career loss by halting the three-fight winning streak of Veronica Hardy. She’s still developing, but there is plenty to like at this stage of her career, and her future looks bright.

One Last Thing

Madison Square Garden really does have some kind of special allure because time and again, these November events are filled with memorable performances by men and women that somehow manage to take their games to the next level in NYC.

It’s not a new thing by any stretch: athletes, musicians, comedians, you name it have been rising to the occasion at MSG for years, but seeing it happen year-after-year inside the Octagon fully affirms that there really is something magical about The Garden that makes this event an absolute must-see spectacle every single year.

Which also means I have to get to one in person in the next couple years; I’m honestly overdue.

And with that, I’m out.

See you again after UFC 310.