James Llontop will replace Charlie Campbell to fight Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 309 on November 16 at Madison Square Garden, with the event headlined by Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title.
James Llontop is stepping up to face Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 309 on November 16th. This exciting matchup will unfold at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, as confirmed by MMA Fighting and initially reported by Te La Canté MMA.
Llontop is filling in for Charlie Campbell, who recently withdrew from the fight card. The reasons for Campbell’s withdrawal remain undisclosed, adding a layer of mystery to the event.
Ruffy, boasting a record of 10-1, has already made a name for himself in the lightweight division. He delivered a jaw-dropping knockout against Jamie Mullarkey during his octagon debut in May, earning a performance bonus at UFC 301. Quite an entrance!
The Brazilian fighter joined the UFC after an impressive victory over Raimond Magomedaliev on Dana White’s Contender Series. Talk about making waves!
Meanwhile, Llontop (14-4) is still searching for his first UFC win. Known as “Goku,” he faced challenges early on. In his debut, he was half a pound overweight and lost to Chris Padilla via rear-naked choke back in April.
Four months later, Llontop suffered another setback with a split decision loss to Viacheslav Borshchev. Tough break! But he’s determined to turn things around.
UFC 309 promises more than just this bout. The headliner features Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic battling for the heavyweight crown. Can’t wait!
Plus, Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler will serve as the co-main event. A stacked card indeed!