The UFC 309 lineup has formally begun, with the primary bout being signed between former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (16-7) and former LFA middleweight champion Eryk Anders (16-8).
UFC 309 is to go down on November 16, 2024, reside from Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis.
Since his days as middleweight champion Weidman has had one of many larger falls from grace in current reminiscence, falling from an ideal 13-0 four-time world champion to going 3-7 over his newest 10 appearances.
Most individuals keep in mind Weidman for his epic upset KO of Anderson Silva again in 2013, dethroning the longtime champion with essentially the most title defenses in UFC historical past (11), a file of which was later tied by Demetrious Johnson.
Previous to that Weidman had additionally defeated the likes of longtime contenders Demian Maia (UD) and Mark Munoz (KO) and following his declare of the title he’d go on to defend it in opposition to the likes of Anderson Silva of their rematch (TKO), in addition to a pair of former UFC light-heavyweight champions in Lyoto Machida (UD) and Vitor Belfort (TKO).
Weidman then misplaced his title to former Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold (TKO), additionally dropping his subsequent two-straight to Yoel Romero (KO) and former multi-division, multi-organization world champion Gegard Mousasi (TKO).
After rebounding with a powerful win over Kelvin Gastelum (arm-triangle choke) Weidman would lose to a different Strikeforce champion, this one Jacare Souza (KO), earlier than going as much as 205 lbs the place he misplaced to then undefeated future title challenger Dominick Reyes (KO).
Weidman subsequent picked up a win over Omari Akhmedov (UD), changing into the one man to ever out-wrestle the Russian contained in the octagon, earlier than struggling one other pair of defeats to Uriah Corridor (TKO) of their rematch, after which Brad Tavares (UD), each fights of which he suffered leg fractures in.
‘The All-American’ nevertheless returned to the octagon earlier this yr at UFC Atlantic Metropolis, selecting up a victory over Bruno Silva (UD) in March.
Eryk Anders has considerably of the same story to Weidman’s, opening up his profession at 10-0 by means of his first 10 skilled bouts earlier than dropping for the primary time in what was his first UFC essential occasion opposing Lyoto Machida (SD).
Anders would go 1-3 over his subsequent 4, and he himself has been up and down with wins and losses since, going 2-1 over his newest three outings with a win over Kyle Daukaus (TKO), a loss to Marc-Andre Barriault (UD), and a win over Jamie Pickett (UD), additionally earlier this yr in March.
His greatest win nevertheless most likely got here earlier than his UFC tenure even began, when he received the LFA middleweight title by way of 5 spherical unanimous determination in opposition to present no. 7 ranked middleweight contender Brendan Allen.
Who wins this middleweight encounter taking place this fall at UFC 309?
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