JON JONES will make his long-awaited return to the octagon in the principle occasion of UFC 285 – THREE years after his final battle.
And the previous dominant light-heavyweight champion will FINALLY be making his long-anticipated heavyweight debut.
9
9
9
9
Jones, 35, will problem French Muay Thai phenom Ciryl Gane for the vacant UFC heavyweight title.
The belt turned up for grabs in January after former champion Francis Ngannou left the promotion after failing to agree a brand new contract.
Ought to Jones get his palms on the strap, he’ll change into a two-division champion, and, within the eyes of many, cement his standing as the best combined martial artist of all time.
Elsewhere on the cardboard, dominant ladies’s flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko will defend her title in opposition to Alexa Grasso.
And welterweight sensation Shavkat Rakhmonov will look to show he is a reputable contender with an announcement victory over Geoff Neal.
When is UFC 285 – Jones vs Gane?
Jon Jones’ historic conflict with Ciryl Gane will happen on the T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 4.
Shut to twenty,000 followers might be in attendance to see Jones’s bid to change into a two-weight world champion.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
What channel is it and might it’s stay streamed?
UFC 285 might be proven stay on BT Sport 1 within the UK and Eire.
The prelims will get underway at 11pm on UFC Battle Move earlier than switching to BT Sport 1 at 1am.
The stacked primary card will get underway 3am.
Followers can stay stream the motion from the BT Sport app, which is accessible for obtain in your cell or pill gadget.
The mouthwatering primary occasion is anticipated to get underway at round 5am UK time on Sunday, March 5.
Will there be an occasion replay?
BT Sport will re-air UFC 285 lower than 24 hours after the occasion has completed.
These wishing to observe it on their TV must wait till round 10pm UK time.
Whereas these keen to observe on-line will be capable to view the highlights by means of the BT Sport app or official web site.
9
9
UFC 285 Full Card
Primary card
- Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane – heavyweight title battle
- Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs Alexa Grasso – ladies’s flyweight title battle
- Geoff Neal vs Shavkat Rakhmonov
- Jalin Turner vs Mateusz Gamrot
- Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett
Prelims
- Derek Brunson vs Dricus du Plessis
- Ian Garry vs Son Kenan
- Viviane Araujo vs Amanda Ribas
- Julian Marquez vs Marc-Andre Barriault
- Jessica Penne vs Tabatha Ricci
- Da’Mon Blackshear vs Farid Basharat
- Kamuela Kirk vs Esteban Ribovics
Final battle outcomes
Corridor of Famer Jones was final in motion at UFC 247 in February 2020 in opposition to Dominick Reyes in what proved to be his ultimate outing at light-heavyweight.
Jones retained his light-heavyweight crown with a unanimous resolution victory, though many thought he misplaced the ultimate.
Gane, in the meantime, bounced from defeat in his unification bout with Ngannou final January with a shocking third-round TKO victory over fan favorite Tai Tuivasa in Paris final September.
9
9
What’s been mentioned?
Jones mentioned: “It’s sort of brief time for me. I want I had somewhat bit extra time to organize
“This concept of getting ready for a brand new opponent in about six or seven weeks, I’ve accomplished it earlier than and I believe it’s greater than sufficient time.
“I’d have preferred extra time, however I do suppose that this can be a good period of time, I really feel nice.”
On an elusive conflict with Ngannou, the previous pound-for-pound king instructed RMC Sport: “I don’t suppose I deserve any criticism.
“I’m right here. Francis had the chance to face me and he opted out of the chance.
“If anybody must be criticized, it’s Francis Ngannou.
“If I’m right, he was supplied the largest contract in Heavyweight historical past.
“He had the chance to be a man that dethroned me and he didn’t imagine in himself. He wasn’t prepared to gamble on himself.”
Gane mentioned: “I do know I’ve acquired good footwork at first, I believe I’m somewhat bit extra well-rounded [than Francis Ngannou].
“I look somewhat bit extra like Jon Jones.
“Sure, when you’ve got a giant man that simply needs to kill you with one punch, it’s extra simpler for a man well-rounded and good like Jon Jones to handle the scenario.
“Me, additionally, I’m not like that. I prefer to handle the scenario. It’s going to be actually good.”
Weigh To Go
Jones instructed SunSport of his physique transformation:
Throughout the UFC 285 media day, he instructed SunSport: “I ended up off coaching camp bench urgent 315 (143kg) for 5 [reps].
“Deadlifts was about 640lbs and my squat was about 500lbs, perhaps 520lbs, someplace round there.
“In the direction of the top, I wasn’t going for giant numbers.
“I used to be simply going for explosiveness and muscular endurance. However I’ve acquired fairly sturdy over the past three years.”
9
He added: “A couple of months in the past, I acquired as much as 267lbs.
“However I felt somewhat extra bloated and I did not like my endurance at that weight.”
“I plan on competing proper round, anyplace between, 245 and 250lbs.”
