UFC 285
UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane was a mixed martial arts pay-per-view event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 4, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.[1] The card featured championship bouts in the heavyweight and women's flyweight divisions, marking the promotion's first numbered event of the year.[2] In the main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones returned after a three-year hiatus to challenge interim heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane for the vacant undisputed heavyweight championship, following Francis Ngannou's departure from the organization. Jones submitted Gane via guillotine choke at 2:04 of the first round, securing his second divisional title and becoming the eighth fighter in UFC history to claim championships in multiple weight classes.[4] The co-main event saw Alexa Grasso challenge seven-time defending women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko, who had dominated the division since 2018.[5] Grasso, previously defeated by Shevchenko in 2020, achieved a stunning upset by submitting the champion via rear-naked choke at 4:34 of the fourth round, ending Shevchenko's reign and becoming the first Mexican-born fighter to win UFC gold.[5][6] The event also highlighted the professional debut of undefeated wrestler Bo Nickal, who finished opponent Jamie Pickett via first-round submission, underscoring UFC's investment in prospects with elite grappling pedigrees.[2]Background and Promotion
Announcement and Build-Up
UFC 285 was officially announced with its marquee matchup on January 14, 2023, pitting former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones against interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane for the vacant undisputed heavyweight title.[7][8] The bout was scheduled for March 4, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, continuing the UFC's tradition of numbered pay-per-view events in Las Vegas.[7] This announcement followed the UFC's decision to release reigning heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou earlier that day, stripping him of the title amid failed contract negotiations over pay and opponent selection rights.[7][9] Jones, absent from competition since his July 2019 victory over Thiago Santos (later ruled a no contest due to a positive drug test), returned after a hiatus exceeding three years, marking his heavyweight debut to pursue a second divisional crown.[10] The UFC positioned the fight as a clash between Jones' unparalleled grappling, fight IQ, and legacy—often cited as the greatest light heavyweight of all time—and Gane's elite striking speed and technical kickboxing base honed from a Muay Thai background.[10] Promotional efforts highlighted the strategic matchup, with UFC CEO Dana White emphasizing Jones' readiness and the opportunity to unify the division quickly post-Ngannou, bypassing potential interim bouts involving other contenders like Stipe Miocic or Tom Aspinall.[11] Build-up included standard UFC media engagements, such as the pre-fight press conference on March 2, 2023, where Jones and Gane exchanged verbal barbs, with Jones downplaying Gane's championship pedigree and Gane questioning Jones' durability at heavyweight.[12] UFC's marketing leveraged Jones' storied career, including 15 title defenses at light heavyweight, against Gane's rapid rise to interim status via knockouts over prominent heavyweights, framing the event as a test of Jones' adaptability versus Gane's untested ground game.[1] This narrative drove early ticket sales and pay-per-view interest, underscoring the UFC's choice to fast-track Jones' title claim amid the heavyweight division's leadership vacuum.[8]Fight Card Development
The main event pitting Jon Jones against Ciryl Gane for the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship was officially announced on January 14, 2023, following the stripping of former champion Francis Ngannou, with the bout scheduled as the headline attraction for UFC 285 on March 4, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.[7] The co-main event, featuring defending UFC Women's Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko defending against challenger Alexa Grasso, was confirmed shortly thereafter on January 18, 2023, positioning it as a title defense integral to the event's championship focus.[13] Subsequent announcements filled out the card with a mix of established contenders and prospects, including the welterweight matchup between undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov and Geoff Neal added to the main card to showcase rising talent against proven strikers.[14] Early prelims highlighted Bo Nickal's promotional debut against Jamie Pickett, slotted after Nickal's prior scheduled UFC debut was postponed due to injury, emphasizing the organization's strategy to integrate Olympic-level wrestlers into middleweight contention.[15] Other bouts, such as lightweight contenders Matt Frevola versus Drew Dober, were incorporated to balance the lineup with high-volume action fighters, enhancing overall card depth without displacing title implications. The card underwent adjustments due to injuries, with Julio Arce withdrawing from his bantamweight bout against Cody Garbrandt on February 3, 2023, citing a knee injury requiring surgery; Trevin Jones stepped in as replacement to maintain the matchup.[16] Similarly, Dan Hooker pulled out of his lightweight fight with Jalin Turner due to a hand injury, prompting Mateusz Gamrot to enter on short notice, shifting the bout to the main card and preserving Turner's momentum while testing Gamrot's grappling against Turner's knockout power. These changes reflected the UFC's approach to rapid replacements, prioritizing continuity and competitive viability over static planning, with no reported weight failures or further alterations by fight week.Key Storylines and Expectations
The main event of UFC 285 featured Jon Jones challenging Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight championship, following Francis Ngannou's departure from the promotion on January 14, 2023, which stripped him of the title due to contract disputes.[17] Jones, returning after a layoff exceeding three years—his last fight being a unanimous decision over Dominick Reyes in February 2020—entered with an undefeated record in title bouts at light heavyweight, prompting expectations of his wrestling and grappling prowess overwhelming Gane's kickboxing style.[18] Pre-fight analyses highlighted Jones as a heavy favorite, with experts predicting a submission victory inside the distance based on his historical control against strikers lacking elite takedown defense.[19] This matchup was viewed as a pivotal reset for the heavyweight division, potentially establishing a new era absent Ngannou's knockout power.[10] In the co-main event, flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko aimed for her eighth title defense against challenger Alexa Grasso, an underdog with a 15-3 record entering the bout.[20] Shevchenko's seven prior defenses underscored her dominance, with previews emphasizing her Muay Thai striking and clinch work as stylistic advantages over Grasso's boxing and resilience, though some noted Grasso's recent wins and potential to exploit any overconfidence.[20] Betting odds heavily favored Shevchenko, reflecting expert consensus on her technical edge despite debates over Grasso's weight cuts and durability in longer fights.[19] Overall anticipation centered on the potential for rapid conclusions, given both headliners' histories of finishes—Jones with 10 submissions and Gane with eight knockouts—fueling buzz about Jones' heavyweight viability and the division's future trajectory post-Ngannou.[21] Pro fighters' predictions largely backed Jones via grappling, amplifying the event's narrative as a legacy-defining return amid the heavyweight title vacuum.[22]  at 2:54 of Round 1 in the opening middleweight bout.[42][43] Mateusz Gamrot vs. Jalin Turner
Mateusz Gamrot defeated Jalin Turner via split decision (29–28, 30–27, 28–29) in their lightweight contest.[44][45] Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Geoff Neal
Shavkat Rakhmonov defeated Geoff Neal via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:17 of Round 3 in the welterweight matchup.[46][47] Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso (Women's Flyweight Championship)
Alexa Grasso defeated Valentina Shevchenko via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:34 of Round 4 to win the UFC Women's Flyweight title.[48][6] Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane (Heavyweight Championship)
Jon Jones defeated Ciryl Gane via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:04 of Round 1 to capture the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship.[2][4]
Preliminary Card Outcomes
The preliminary card of UFC 285 consisted of eight non-title bouts broadcast on ESPN and UFC Fight Pass, spanning lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, women's flyweight, bantamweight, and strawweight divisions.[49]- Lightweight bout: Loik Radzhabov defeated Esteban Ribovics via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
- Welterweight bout: Ian Machado Garry defeated Song Kenan via TKO (strikes) at 4:22 of round 3.[50]
- Middleweight bout: Marc-André Barriault defeated Julian Marquez via TKO (punches) at 4:12 of round 2.[51]
- Women's Flyweight bout: Amanda Ribas defeated Viviane Araújo via unanimous decision (29–27, 30–26, 30–27).[51]
- Bantamweight bout: Cody Garbrandt defeated Trevin Jones via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).[51]
- Bantamweight bout: Farid Basharat defeated Da'Mon Blackshear via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
- Strawweight bout: Tabatha Ricci defeated Jessica Penne via submission (armbar) at 2:14 of round 2.
- Bantamweight bout: Cameron Saaiman defeated Mana Martinez via majority decision (29–26, 28–27, 28–28); Saaiman was deducted one point in round 3 for repeated fence grabs.