Tag: UFC 285

UFC 285 predictions: Jones or Gane, Shevchenko or Grasso in title fights?

Check out our picks for the UFC 285 main card, including Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane and Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso title fights.

Jones
vs.
Gane		 Shevchenko
vs.
Grasso		 Neal
vs.
Rakhmonov		 Gamrot
vs.
Turner		 Nickal
vs.
Pickett
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
19-13		 jones2023
Jones
(68%)		 shevchenko2023
Shevchenko
(87%)		 rakhmonov2023
Rakhmonov
(85%)		 gamrot2023
Gamrot
(64%)		 nickal2023
Nickal
(90%)
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
24-11		 jones2023
Jones		 shevchenko2023
Shevchenko		 neal2023
Neal		 turner2023
Turner		 nickal2023
Nickal
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
24-11		 gane2023
Gane		 shevchenko2023
Shevchenko		 rakhmonov2023
Rakhmonov		 gamrot2023
Gamrot		 nickal2023
Nickal
Nolan King
@mma_kings
22-13/em>		 jones2023
Jones		 shevchenko2023
Shevchenko		 rakhmonov2023
Rakhmonov		 gamrot2023
Gamrot		 nickal2023
Nickal
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
22-13
trophy copy 2018, 2022 Champion		 jones2023
Jones		 shevchenko2023
Shevchenko		 rakhmonov2023
Rakhmonov		 turner2023
Turner		 nickal2023
Nickal
Matt Erickson
22-13		 gane2023
Gane		 grasso2023
Grasso		 rakhmonov2023
Rakhmonov		 gamrot2023
Gamrot		 nickal2023
Nickal
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
21-14		 gane2023
Gane		 shevchenko2023
Shevchenko		 rakhmonov2023
Rakhmonov		 gamrot2023
Gamrot		 nickal2023
Nickal
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
21-14		 gane2023
Gane		 shevchenko2023
Shevchenko		 rakhmonov2023
Rakhmonov		 gamrot2023
Gamrot		 nickal2023
Nickal
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
21-14		 gane2023
Gane		 shevchenko2023
Shevchenko		 rakhmonov2023
Rakhmonov		 gamrot2023
Gamrot		 nickal2023
Nickal
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
20-15		 jones2023
Jones		 shevchenko2023
Shevchenko		 rakhmonov2023
Rakhmonov		 turner2023
Turner		 nickal2023
Nickal
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
19-16
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 jones2023
Jones		 shevchenko2023
Shevchenko		 rakhmonov2023
Rakhmonov		 gamrot2023
Gamrot		 nickal2023
Nickal
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
19-16
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 gane2023
Gane		 shevchenko2023
Shevchenko		 rakhmonov2023
Rakhmonov		 gamrot2023
Gamrot		 nickal2023
Nickal

The UFC stays home in Las Vegas this week, but shifts to a big venue with a pair of title fights atop the bill.

UFC 285 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, former longtime light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) for the vacant heavyweight title, which became available when Francis Ngannou and the promotion parted ways earlier this year. Jones will fight for the first time in more than three years and will be making his debut at heavyweight.

Jones is slight favorite at -170 at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Gane is +145. But our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers slight underdog Gane with the narrowest possible edge at 6-5.

In the co-feature, dominant women’s flyweight champ [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] (23-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) puts her title on the line against [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC). Shevchenko is a huge favorite of more than 7-1, but she’s not a unanimous pick. One of our pickers is taking Grasso in a major upset.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) finds himself a big underdog against unbeaten welterweight [autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag] (16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), who is more than a 5-1 favorite. Rakhmonov has a whopping 10-1 picks lead.

[autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] (21-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) is more than a 2-1 favorite in his lightweight bout against [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC), and he has a big 8-3 lead from our staff members.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag] (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is a favorite of historic proportions at 19-1 in his middleweight fight against [autotag]Jamie Pickett[/autotag] (13-8 MMA, 2-4 UFC). Nickal, a highly touted wrestling standout, will make his UFC debut.

In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Jones (68 percent), Shevchenko (87 percent), Rakhmonov (85 percent), 64 percent) and Nickal (90 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 220.

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Photos: UFC 285 official weigh-ins

Check out the photos from the UFC 285 official weigh-ins at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Check out the photos from the UFC 285 official weigh-ins at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. (Images by Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie)

UFC 285 video: Valentina Shevchenko, Alexa Grasso make weight for title fight

The UFC 285 co-main event is locked in after Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso made weight for their women’s flyweight title fight.

LAS VEGAS – The UFC 285 co-main event is locked in after [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] and [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag] made weight for their women’s flyweight title fight.

Shevchenko and Grasso are scheduled to clash in Saturday’s co-headliner at T-Mobile Arena. The fight airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

First, though, both women had to step on the scales at Friday’s official weigh-in, and there were no issues on either side.

Mexican challenger Grasso was the first fighter to come to the scale during the two-hour official weigh-ins window. She was under the championship limit at 124.5 pounds. Champion Shevchenko was right behind her and was 124.5, as well, heading into her eighth consecutive attempted title defense.

Watch the video above to see Shevchenko and Grasso make weight ahead of UFC 285.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.

UFC 285 breakdown: How Alexa Grasso can threaten Valentina Shevchenko’s title reign

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the co-main event for UFC 285, a women’s title bout between Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso.

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the co-main event for UFC 285.

UFC 285 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Jon Jones loves what Conor McGregor represents, says return is ‘great for the UFC’

Ahead of his heavyweight title shot at UFC 285, Jon Jones said he thinks everyone will benefit when former champ Conor McGregor returns.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] thinks everyone benefits from [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s return.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is expected to compete later this year after he was sidelined due to a broken leg in July 2021. He currently is coaching “The Ultimate Fighter 31” opposite side Michael Chandler and the pair is expected to fight after the show airs.

2023 marks the return of both ex-light heavyweight champion Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) and former dual-champ McGregor – two of the sport’s biggest stars. McGregor however, arguably stands alone when it comes to popularity and pay-per-view sales, and Jones says the sport is better when “The Notorious” is around.

“There’s only one Conor McGregor,” Jones told reporters at the UFC 285 media day Wednesday. “I love Conor. I love what he represents. He’s big. He has this gigantic brand. Some say it’s just as big as our sport. It’s going to be great when he comes back. He’s going to bring a whole new energy, even more fans – it’s great for all of us. It’s great for the sponsors. It’s great for the UFC.

“I wish Conor all the best. I love the way he’s living his life. I never thought in my time that I’d see an MMA fighter with a Lamborghini yacht, but he’s done it. I’m so proud of him. It opens doors for all of us. It lets young fighters know that it’s possible. There’s great business outside of the sport. There’s life-changing opportunity outside of the sport. I’m just so grateful for (him) being that example for all of us.”

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Jones returns from a layoff of more than there years to face Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title in Saturday’s UFC 285 headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.

Dominick Cruz: Ciryl Gane ‘just doesn’t have the grappling’ to deal with Jon Jones

Dominick Cruz thinks Jon Jones will lstop Ciryl Gane on the ground to win the heavyweight title at UFC 285 in Las Vegas.

[autotag]Dominick Cruz[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] will stop [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] on the ground at UFC 285.

Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) returns from a layoff of more than three years to face Gane (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) for the vacant heavyweight belt in Saturday’s headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Jones’ toughest fights have come against longer and taller opponents such as Alexander Gustafsson, Thiago Santos and Dominick Reyes, who all took the former light heavyweight champ to the brink – and Cruz expects Gane to be able to trouble him in the standup, too.

“His base style does bring what he needs to do naturally – which is move his feet the whole time, lateral movement side to side, don’t go straight back in straight lines, and finish his combinations with kicks and he does all these things naturally,” Cruz told Helen Yee. ”

“He’s very tricky, and he’s so big and so lengthy that any time Jones has faced somebody that length, he’s taken some damage and had a tough time. Alexander Gustafsson – I mean, that’s really the one that gave him the hardest time, that was the tallest. Maybe Dominick Reyes. So when you look at that, those little issues of the length and the damage that they can create, Ciryl Gane brings naturally.”

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However, Cruz thinks the X-factor in the fight is Jones’ wrestling, which he doesn’t see Gane being able to handle.

“The problem is he just doesn’t have the grappling,” Cruz said. “There’s no way. Jon Jones was one of the best grapplers in the 205-pound division 10 years ago. He’s definitely the best grappler in the heavyweight division. So how do you get past Jon Jones being able to grab a hold of you, double underhook you on the fence, take you down, elbow you, and either mount you and elbow you to death, or when you turn your back because you don’t want to get elbowed, you get choked? That’s how I see this going over a short period of time.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.

Henry Cejudo: If Valentina Shevchenko goes blow-for-blow with Alexa Grasso, she could get put out

Henry Cejudo says Valentina Shevchenko will be making a mistake if she stands toe-to-toe with Alexa Grasso in the UFC 285 co-main event.

[autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] says [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] will be making a mistake if she stands toe-to-toe with [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag].

Flyweight champion Shevchenko (23-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) defends her title against Grasso (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 285 co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Although Shevchenko has had no issues standing and trading with any of her prior opponents in her seven title defenses, Cejudo doesn’t think it would be a good idea against Mexican boxer Grasso.

“I will say this: This fight will go the distance,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “The toughest matchup that Valentina’s going to have is against a girl like Alexa Grasso. Alexa Grasso has power in her hands. If Valentina decides to sit there and go blow-for-blow with Alexa Grasso, Alexa Grasso could potentially put her out.”

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However, Cejudo thinks Shevchenko could take advantage of her striking exchanges with Grasso by chopping away at her legs.

“There’s one thing that Alexa Grasso does have that not a lot of people have capitalized (on), is her stance. She’s very, very wide in her stance, and I do believe that if Valentina plays her game right tactically, there’s going to be a lot of leg kicks.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.

Jon Jones breaks down two ‘big holes’ he sees in Ciryl Gane’s fight game ahead of UFC 285

At the UFC 285 pre-fight press conference, Jones revealed the weaknesses and tendencies he sees in Ciryl Gane.

LAS VEGAS – It’s no secret that [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] studies his opponents before every fight, and he has found some areas to potentially exploit against [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag].

One of the reasons Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) doesn’t take short notice fights is because he wants to know what challenge lies ahead, and that means hours of studying film. When he steps into the cage at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for the UFC 285 main event to face Gane (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) for the vacant heavyweight title, Jones believes the notes he has gathered will help him succeed.

When first asked what he sees in his heavyweight debut opponent, Jones was complimentary of Gane, giving the former interim champion a lot of praise for his skills.

“Ciryl seems like a nice guy,” Jones told reporters at the UFC 285 pre-fight press conference. “Seems like a – you know, he’s a great fighter. Great footwork, great striking, ambidextrous in his stances – and I think it’s going to be a great fight.”

A few moments later, however, Jones was asked to clarify comments he made at Wednesday’s media day, when he stated Gane was the most incomplete fighter in the heavyweight’s top five. That’s when Jones went beyond the surface and divulged what he views as weaknesses in his opponent’s game.

“I respect Ciryl Gane, I really do, but I study film constantly and I just see a lot of patterns,” Jones said. “When he’s in one stance, there’s things he really loves to do. He goes to the same well a lot. When he’s in the opposite stance, he has his tendencies. Outside of that, I realized that he doesn’t have much wrestling. He relies on evasion, trying to get away. He relies on jiu-jitsu instead of solid takedown defense, and same with the ground game. I watched Francis Ngannou be able to rack up maybe five, six minutes of top time in that fight, and Francis is not a guy that’s known to control people on the top.

“He does have the striking down. I don’t think defensively he’s a very strong kickboxer. He has a really nice offense. Like I said, his defense is mainly in his footwork, and two other big holes are jiu-jitsu and wrestling.”

Gane, who was sat a few feet away from Jones with UFC president Dana White manning the podium between them, did not give much of a reaction while his opponent spoke. When it was his turn to take the mic, Gane addressed some of the issues Jones spoke about.

After admitting he made a mistake in underestimating Francis Ngannou’s wrestling game in their UFC 270 heavyweight title bout, Gane said he made sure he covered that base in training camp for Jones.

“Everybody knows the level of wrestling of Jon Jones, but I’m focused about that,” Gane said. “I’m focused on it, so we worked on it. We’re going to be ready for him.”

Beyond addressing his wrestling, Gane also spoke about going above and beyond in preparation for this fight, because he knows what a win over Jones would mean for his legacy, in addition to becoming the UFC heavyweight champion.

“Truly, I’m just focused on my performance,” Gane said. “I just want to do well in the cage against a big guy like him. It’s a big test for me. Maybe, and truly, the biggest test of my life.”

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UFC 285 video: Press conference faceoffs with Neal vs. Rakhmonov, Nickal vs. Pickett, more

The non-title fights on the UFC 285 main card came face-to-face for staredowns at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.

ABU DHABI – The UFC 285 pre-fight news conference took place Thursday and the entire main card was in attendance to answer questions.

At the conclusion of the festivities, the entire main card, which airs on pay-per-view, and the featured prelims, which air on ESPNews and ESPN+, participated in some traditional staredowns.

oth championship fights were locked in, but so were the remaining pairings, including a high-stakes welterweight clash of [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) vs. [autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag] (16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), a pairing of ranked lightweights [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] (21-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) vs. [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and debuting middleweight prospect [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag] (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) vs. [autotag]Jamie Pickett[/autotag] (13-8 MMA, 2-4 UFC).

The staredowns featured a range of emotions. Watch the video of the three non-title faceoffs above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.

UFC 285 video: Valentina Shevchenko, Alexa Grasso show respect in pre-fight press conference staredown

 Champ Valentina Shevchenko and challenger Alexa Grasso faced off for the first time ahead of UFC 285 at the pre-fight press conference.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] and [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag] faced off for the first time ahead of their UFC 285 women’s flyweight title fight at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.

Shevchenko (23-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) will attempt to make an eighth consecutive defense of her title on Saturday when she meets Mexican challenger Grasso (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in the co-headliner at T-Mobile Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

After both women spoke confidently about their matchup in front of fans and media, they got in front of each other for an intense yet respectful staredown.

Check out the video below to see Shevchenko and Grasso face off at the UFC 285 pre-fight press conference (via Twitter):

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.