UFC 285: Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane Preview, Odds, Prediction

Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane clash in the main event of the UFC 285. Their battle will decide the new UFC heavyweight champion because that position has been vacated since Francis Ngannou departed from the UFC due to a dispute over the new contract. The organization already targeted the clash between him and Jones, but that didn’t happen. Without Ngannou in the equation, Dana White’s and the management’s only rational choice was to bring Jones and Gane together. 

Preview

Jon Jones (26-1, -155) comes in this event as a favorite. Now, it isn’t odd to see Jones in this position, but we still believe that the odds underestimate Gane a little bit. Bony didn’t have a fight since early 2020, when he posted a controversial win over Dominick Reyes. Previously, he was better than Thiago Santos, also a controversial one, via split decision.

We don’t need to say too much about this guy. At his prime, there wasn’t a better fighter in the UFC, as he defeated his rivals in so many different ways. Submission, KOs, or decisions, you name it, Jones did it all. Bones was a savage. He was dominant and could find a way to hurt the opponent like just a few fighters in history. 

We doubt his cardio due to a lack of proper tests and his new weight. Jones’ movement and skills were mostly due to his incredible physics and athleticism, which are now in jeopardy due to extra pounds. 

Ciryl Gane (11-1, +155) bounced back following the loss to Ngannou. He was better than Tai Tuivasa, surviving several tough clean hits and a knockdown before putting the rival to sleep in the third round. The Frenchman didn’t expect such a furious start from the other side, but he eventually regrouped and responded in the best possible way. 

Gane’s main virtues inside the octagon are composure and his methodical attack using Muay Thai skills. His size and flexibility allow him to keep a distance from the opponent, and a very disciplined approach is another plus because he almost never gets out of the rhythm. 

He holds victories over Junior Dos Santos, Rozenstruik, Volkov, and Derrick Lewis. He has the only loss against Ngannou in a grappling slugfest that saw the Predator controlling the situation but not imposing his will over the compatriot. 

Prediction

Lots of questions are hanging over Jones and his physical shape. He was long gone from fighting, and even though it is sometimes beneficial to heal one’s body with a long absence from the octagon, lately, we haven’t seen too many successes in such comebacks. But this is Jon Jones, one of the best ever. 

Still, our pick here is Gane for several reasons. The first is his Muay Thai, which will enable him to inflict damage on Jones’ legs. Bony still didn’t adapt to the new weight, and his quickness and explosiveness hadn’t been tested in battle circumstances. 

If his legs become heavy in the opening three rounds, and we believe they are going to, Gane will have an open path to the title. 

Pick: Gane wins +155