Jon Jones makes his long-awaited Octagon return this weekend when he collides with Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 for the vacant heavyweight title.
Here’s everything you need to know about a stacked card in Las Vegas that also includes a women’s flyweight title showdown between Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso.
Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
When: Saturday, March 4
How To Watch: BT Sport 1. The programme will begin at 00.30am Sunday for UK fight fans, with the main card expected to begin at 3am and the main event beginning at approximately 6am.
Tale Of The Tape:
Jones:
Place Of Birth: Rochester, New York
Age: 35
Alias: Bones
Record: 26-1-0 (1 NC)
Height: 6’4’’
Reach: 84’’
Stance: Orthodox
Last Fight: Jones has been away form the Octagon since February 2020 when he beat Dominick Reyes by unanimous decision at UFC 247.
Gane:
Place Of Birth: La Roche-sur-Yon, France
Age: 32
Alias: Bon Gamin
Record: 11-1-0
Height: 6’4’’
Reach: 81’’
Stance: Orthodox
Last Fight: Gane claimed a third round knockout win over Tai Tuivasa last September
What They Say:
Jones: “It’s been a long time coming. This is three years of training twice a day with no reward. That was frustrating at times.
“But I stayed faithful to my goals and dreams, and I’m here. I’ve made it. I am excited, and I am here for the challenge.
“I respect that Ciryl took this fight. I like what he stands for. He carries himself like a gentleman.
“I know he has a lot to gain and not much to lose, but this is a huge step up in competition for him in my opinion.”
Full Fight Card:
Main Card
Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane, vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship
Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs Alexa Grasso, UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship
Geoff Neal vs Shavkat Rakhmonov
Mateusz Gamrot vs Jalin Turner
Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett
Preliminary Card
Cody Garbrandt vs Trevin Jones
Derek Brunson vs Dricus du Plessis
Viviane Araujo vs Amanda Ribas
Julian Marquez vs Marc-Andre Barriault
Early Preliminary Card
Ian Garry vs Song Kenan
Cameron Saaiman vs Leomana Martinez
Jessica Penne vs Tabatha Ricci
Da’Mon Blackshear vs Farid Basharat
Esteban Ribovics vs Loik Radzhabov
Betfred Odds:
Jones: 8/13
Gane: 5/4
18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
