1. Jon Jones is making his return to the UFC after a three-year layoff and moving up a weight class to challenge Ciryl Gane for a vacant belt.
2. Valentina Shevchenko will make her eighth consecutive title defense against Alexa Grasso, who will be content to engage in a tactical striking battle with the champion.
3. Geoff Neal, who missed weight by four pounds, will have a tough time dealing with the rampaging and agile Shavkat Rakhmonov, who excels in striking and taking people down to bludgeon them.
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Jon Jones, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, is set to make his return to the octagon after a three-year hiatus to compete in the heavyweight division against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. Jones is widely considered one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, having remained unbeaten in his last 28 fights, although he has struggled with personal issues outside of the sport. Gane, the former interim champion and the second-best heavyweight in the world after Francis Ngannou, has the opportunity to make history by defeating Jones and becoming the only man to do so.
Valentina Shevchenko, the reigning women’s flyweight champion, will also defend her title at UFC 285 against Alexa Grasso. Shevchenko is widely regarded as one of the best female fighters in MMA history and will be looking to make her eighth successful title defense. Grasso, a talented Mexican prospect, is a smart stylistic match for Shevchenko but is expected to be outmatched against the champion.
Geoff Neal faces off against undefeated welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, while top-ranked lightweights Mateusz Gamrot and Jalin Turner also square off. Additionally, three-time NCAA wrestling champion Bo Nickal will make his highly-anticipated debut in a middleweight bout against Jamie Pickett on the main card.
The event will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 4. The card begins with a five-fight early prelims portion on ESPN+ at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by the four-fight prelim card on ESPNews and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET. The five-fight main card will begin at 10 p.m. ET and will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
While Jones’ personal issues have been a topic of conversation, many fans are excited to see how he will fare against Gane in the heavyweight division. Jones’ wrestling and defense will be key factors in the fight, as no heavyweight has been able to outstrike Gane yet. However, Gane’s athleticism and striking abilities will make him an intriguing challenge for Jones.
Overall, UFC 285 promises to be an exciting night of fights for MMA fans, with several intriguing matchups and top-tier talent on display.