Jones returns UFC The former light heavyweight champion faces off this weekend after a three-year hiatus. Cyrillic Gane for the vacant heavyweight title.
Jones, 35, is considered one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, but has been stripped of the light-heavyweight belt multiple times due to failed drug tests and violations of the law. The American had been considering making the heavyweight move for a long time, and three years after his last fight, he’s finally back this weekend.
On the opposite corner will be French Gane, a former interim heavyweight champion who failed to unify last year against Francis Ngannou. Gane suffered his first professional defeat this January as he was overtaken by his former teammate, who left the UFC and left the heavyweight belt.
But Gane’s record is still impressive, and the 32-year-old’s speed and technique are rare in the heavyweight division. Valentina Shevchenko will test these assets against Jones in the main event of UFC 285, after defending her flyweight title against Alexa Grasso.
Here is everything you need to know.
When?
UFC 285 will take place on Saturday, March 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Early qualifiers will begin at 23:15 GMT (3:15 pm PT, 5:15 pm CT, 6:15 pm ET) and qualifiers will be at 1:00 pm GMT (5:00 pm PT, 7 pm CT) on Sunday, March 5. , Saturday 20:00 ET) will begin.
The motherboard is then scheduled for 03:00 GMT on Sunday (19:00 PT on Saturday, 21:00 CT, 22:00 ET).
How can I watch?
The card will be streamed live on BT Sport in the UK, and the broadcaster’s app and website will also stream the fights.
In the US, ESPN+ will broadcast the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.
Odds
Ciryl Gane (right) will face Jon Jones for the vacant UFC heavyweight title
(UFCEurope via Twitter)
Jones – 5/8; Gane – 4/3
Shevchenko – 2/11; Grasso – 4/1
full card
main board
Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane (vacant heavyweight title)
Valentina Shevchenko (current) vs Alexa Grasso (women’s welterweight champion)
Geoff Neal vs Shavkat Rakhmonov (heavyweight)
Mateusz Gamrot vs Jalin Turner (light)
Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett (middleweight)
UFC women’s lightweight champion Valentina Shevchenko
(Getty Images)
preliminary rounds
Cody Garbrandt vs Trevin Jones ( bantamweight)
Derek Brunson vs Dricus Du Plessis (middleweight)
Viviane Araujo vs Amanda Ribas (women’s welterweight)
Julian Marquez vs Marc-Andre Barriault (middleweight)
early qualifying rounds
Ian Machado Garry vs Song Kenan (heavyweight)
Mana Martinez vs Cameron Saaiman ( bantamweight )
Jessica Penne vs Tabatha Ricci (women’s strawweight)
Da’Mon Blackshear vs Farid Basharat (welterweight)
Kamuela Kirk vs Esteban Ribovics (lightweight)
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