Tag: UFC 285

Dricus Du Plessis: I put up amazing performances and they ‘boot me down to the undercard’ of UFC 285

Dricus Du Plessis is not happy about his placement on the UFC 285 preliminary card – while untested Bo Nickal opens the main card.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] thinks he was snubbed out of a main card spot at UFC 285.

Du Plessis (18-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) takes on perennial top contender Derek Brunson (23-8 MMA, 14-6 UFC) on Saturday’s prelims at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Du Plessis has kicked off his octagon tenure at 4-0 and most recently had a Fight of the Night submission over Darren Till at UFC 282. However, his exciting performances have yet to land him a main card spot and the South African fighter is irked to see highly touted debutant Bo Nickal open up the main card.

“(He’s opening up the main card) as a wrestler,” Du Plessis told reporters on Nickal’s popularity at the UFC 285 media day on Wednesday. “But at the end of the day, maybe when I fight for the belt I can open up the card on the early prelims. I’ve been getting performance bonuses almost every fight, putting up amazing performances, and they boot me down to the undercard. But really, just give me the fight and I’ll win my fight. That’s what I’m here for.”

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Regardless of his spot on the card, a win over Brunson is expected to give Du  Plessis a big jump in the middleweight rankings. But the former two-division EFC champion’s goals go way beyond a top-five spot.

“What more is there than fighting for that belt?” Du Plessis said. “That’s what I’m here for and more will come when I defend it. More will come when I go up a weight division and fight for another belt, when I defend my middleweight belt, become the greatest middleweight of all time. That’s a very high standard to set for yourself, but that’s where I’m at. I don’t have any other goal than to be the greatest to ever do this.”

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

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MMA Junkie Radio #3340: Guest Alan Belcher, UFC 285 preview, BKFC’s big signings, more

Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”


Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,340, the boys welcome in guest Alan Belcher, who just won BKFC’s heavyweight title. Plus, they preview Saturday’s big UFC 285 pay-per-view with the return of Jon Jones and preview the other big fights on the card, look at BKFC’s big new signings, discuss the latest news and more. Tune in!

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

Derek Brunson plans to keep winning until he gets ‘Michael Bisping title shot’

Derek Brunson hopes he can earn a UFC middleweight title shot to close out his career.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Derek Brunson[/autotag] hopes he can earn a title shot to close out his career.

Brunson (23-8 MMA, 14-6 UFC) meets [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] (18-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC 285 prelims at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Du Plessis marks yet another lower-ranked fighter whom Brunson has been matched up against. But as long as he continues knocking off contenders, Brunson thinks he can’t be denied his first shot at gold.

“I just need to win,” Brunson told reporters at the UFC 285 media day on Wednesday. “If I’m ultimately going to  get that Michael Bisping title shot, I’ve just got to go out here keep winning, holding my spot and be ready.”

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Du Plessis is unbeaten in the UFC and all but one of his professional wins have come by finish. But having fought the likes of ex-champions Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker and Anderson Silva, Brunson says he’s seen it all at this point.

“He doesn’t really do anything that I haven’t seen before,” Brunson said. “He’s a tough guy, a lot of forward action, comes to fight.

“A fight is a fight. I would say this is going to be his hardest test. When you’re in high school, you take all of these tests, then you got the finals. So this is the finals for him to see exactly where he’s at.”

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

Cody Garbrandt determined to turn around UFC career: ‘I still have a lot of fight left in me’

Cody Garbrandt is confident he can bounce back from current losing skid.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag] is confident there are better days ahead in his fighting career.

The former UFC bantamweight champion is determined to turn things around and get back to his winning ways. That all starts this Saturday, when Garbrandt (12-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) makes his return against [autotag]Trevin Jones[/autotag] on the preliminary card of UFC 285 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Garbrandt enters the bout on the heels of two consecutive defeats and a run of 1-5 in his past six fights. It’s not an ideal circumstance to be fighting Jones (13-9 MMA, 1-3 UFC), but Garbrandt feels he’s made the necessary changes to succeed.

“This is the best I’ve felt in years,” Garbrandt told reporters at the UFC 285 media day on Wednesday. “I’m excited to go out there and showcase my skills on Saturday. I’m a former world champion. I had that going on.

“I’m looking to rebound from the skid that I have going on. I understand that there’s ups and downs in life and just keeping the balance. I just need some momentum. You saw what momentum did in 2016. I went from unranked to world champion. All it takes is one fight at a time and then snowball effect, and I’ll make it back to the top.”

Garbrandt is now training in Las Vegas, as he relocated from Sacramento, Calif. He also revealed that heading into his last fight against Kai Kara-France, which he lost by TKO, he was going through a divorce and had several injuries. The 31-year-old said his life and mental health are in a much better place now.

Some may doubt Garbrandt’s abilities to bounce back from his streak, but that’s OK with the former champion.

“Honestly, it’s always been like that,” Garbrandt said. “I’ve had doubt since I was born. I was born into dirt. My mom was a single parent, we weren’t supposed to make it this far, so I just keep proving everyone wrong, staying humble, do what I need to do, and just go in there and train every day and get better.

“Also understand that it happens, it’s a fight, you know. This is a game of inches. Sometimes you might get caught, and luckily I was 11-0, champion, 25 years old. I truly believe that I still have a lot of fight left in me. As long as the passion and the hunger is there, the sky is the limit.”

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

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Eric Nicksick: Jon Jones-Ciryl Gane winner can’t stake claim as undisputed UFC heavyweight champ

“We all know who the real champ is,” Erick Nicksick said, referencing Francis Ngannou.

LAS VEGAS – Regardless of what transpires at UFC 285, Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick will still consider [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] UFC heavyweight champion.

Ngannou relinquished his title after parting ways with the UFC due to failed contract negotiations. As a result, the promotion matched up the returning [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] with [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] for the vacant belt in Saturday’s UFC 285 headliner at T-Mobile Arena.

Prior to departing, Ngannou retained his title by outwrestling Gane at UFC 270. Nicksick sees interesting storylines emerging from either a Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) or Gane (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) victory, but he is leaning toward Jones.

“I think it’s gonna maybe raise more questions,” Nicksick told MMA Junkie Radio. “If Ciryl wins, we’re obviously gonna look over and say, ‘Well, Francis beat him. Francis was able to outwrestle him and beat him.’ If Jon Jones wins, I think it just adds more luster to that Francis-Jon Jones matchup if it ever does happen. So, in my heart of hearts, I feel like Jon has the proper toolset to go out there and become champion.”

Regardless of the outcome between Jones and Gane, Nicksick says Ngannou still holds the title for “baddest man on the planet.”

“I’m actually kind of torn, because I’m rooting for both guys in a lot of ways,” Nicksick said. “But the winner out of that fight, I don’t think is really gonna stake claim as the undisputed. I think we all know who the real champ is.”

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

Take a clear first look at Jon Jones’ heavyweight physique ahead of UFC 285

There’s a lot more meat on Jon Jones’ bones compared to the last time we saw him in action.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] is days away from making his heavyweight debut at UFC 285, but you don’t have to wait until Saturday to see what he’s going to look like inside the cage.

Competing with the big boys at heavyweight meant Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) had to pack on some pounds to his 6-foot-4 frame, and he has spent the past three years adding bulk while maintaining his athleticism. At UFC 285 media day on Wednesday, Jones addressed the changes in his physique, and how he expects to perform inside the cage against [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) for the vacant heavyweight title in the main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“Honestly I feel like a stronger version of myself,” Jones told reporters. “I’m not super lean. I don’t have a mean six pack like I used to. That took me a while to get used to, you know what I mean? Like, back in the day I would judge my fitness level by the way I looked in the mirror.

“I’m a heavyweight now. It’s not about what you look like. It’s about how you perform. I feel like I’m performing really well. … I feel really good. I like it. I get to eat what I want, feel good. Life is good.”

Images from the UFC 285 pre-fight photo shoot are now available, and you can get a first glimpse of Jones’ heavyweight frame in the Venum UFC fight kit. Take a look at Jones’ new physique below (via Getty Images):
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For comparison to Jones’ light heavyweight frame, check out these images ahead of his last outing at UFC 247 in February 2020:

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At UFC 247, Jones weighed in just under the light heavyweight championship mark for his title defense against Dominick Reyes, stepping on the scale at 204 pounds.

It remains to be seen what he will tip the scale at on Friday morning at the official weigh-ins, but it’s apparent by the pictures that he is nowhere near the light heavyweight limit these days.

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

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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Jon Jones claims past drug test failures no longer valid, wants no contest vs. Daniel Cormier overturned

Jon Jones wants his no contest against Daniel Cormier overturned to a KO win.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] feels like his name should be cleared of past drug test failures.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion claims his previous test results are no longer valid under a 2019 revision to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency rules that upped the threshold for prohibited substances to 100 picograms. Although USADA is not clear on its website of this specific change, UFC senior vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitsky commented publicly on the change in threshold for prohibited substances in 2020.

Jones, who’s making his long-awaited return this Saturday at UFC 285, is hoping that his name is cleared of the failed drug tests he had prior to the change in threshold, and the no contest result of his 2017 rematch against Daniel Cormier gets overturned back to a KO win.

“USADA has changed some of the rules regarding picograms and what’s allowed, and I’ve come to find out that all my findings are all under the new legal limit, meaning that I would’ve been cleared from every test that I’ve ever taken, and that means a lot to me,” Jones told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 285 media day.

Jones previously failed multiple drug tests for androgen-related substances. The first came ahead of his rematch against Cormier, which was originally scheduled for UFC 200 in 2016. He tested positive for estrogen blockers clomiphene and letrozole.

After serving a USADA suspension for the original violation, Jones would then test positive again in 2017 after successfully making a comeback to stop Cormier at UFC 214. Jones tested positive for turinabol, causing his win to be overturned to a no contest, along with a 15-month suspension. From there, Jones alternated negative and positive tests, showing very low levels of the same substance he tested positive for at UFC 214. One of the tests revealed 33 picograms, which is under the 100-picogram threshold in the revised USADA policy. USADA experts concluded this was a “pulsing effect” and there was no new violation.

“If that same rule would’ve applied back then, it would’ve never made the media,” Jones said. “It would’ve never been a big deal at all. My win over Daniel Cormier wouldn’t be a no contest. It would be a knockout, a KO victory.

“So, I’m hoping that with these rule changes, we could go back and make that no contest a win. That would mean a lot to me. I don’t have any ill will towards USADA. It’s just something we needed to go through. I was the first one, and one of the biggest names to go through it, and I’m glad I did because some of these younger fighters wouldn’t have been able to survive something like that.

“They would’ve just been cut or not been able to afford the lawyers or whatever. So I took the bullet for this sport and Major League Baseball. I’m glad fighters in the future will get to avoid what I went through. It was hell being considered a steroid cheat. I’m glad that people get to see clearly that I never was. I feel set free.”

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

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Alexa Grasso went to extremes preparing for Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285: ‘This is the biggest challenge of my life’

Mexico’s Alexa Grasso has a chance to make history at UFC 285, and made sure no stone was left unturned in preparation for her title fight.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag] knows she’s in for the toughest challenge of her career, but she has covered all the bases in preparation for the chance to make history.

At UFC 285, Mexico’s Grasso (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) will have the opportunity to end the championship reign of [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag], who has held the women’s flyweight title since 2018, racking up seven title defenses.

It’s a tall order, and one that Grasso went above and beyond to prepare to be the one to stop the stranglehold Shevchenko (23-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) has held on the division. She will have her chance in the pay-per-view co-main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this Saturday.

“I’ve been watching her career for a long, long time, and I think this is the biggest challenge of my life,” Grasso told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 285 media day. “I can’t say that I’m the best striker if I haven’t faced someone like her. I’m truly happy and inspired for this fight. I know she’s tough, I know she’s dangerous in all areas, and this made me train tons. Like, a lot.

“I was extreme with my discipline, I was extreme with my training, with my diet, with my conditioning. I was extreme in all areas and definitely, I’m a better athlete right now, and I can’t wait to prove that.”

Grasso’s impressive four-fight winning streak brought her to this moment. After defeating Viviane Araujo by unanimous decision in October, she began targeting UFC 285 as a potential return date, seemingly willing the title fight into existence.

Winning the title would be a career-defining moment and a historic one for the sport and her country. Grasso could become the first Mexican female champion in UFC history, but claiming the title by knocking off someone with a resume like Shevchenko’s would make the entire moment that much sweeter.

“As a competitor, I like challenges,” Grasso said. “Knowing all the things she just achieved, it gives you more motivation. If she’s done so much, and of course, she has a lot more years in the sport, but knowing the credentials she has, and to be able to win (against) someone like her, I think it’s a plus.”

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

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Jon Jones plans to unleash ‘vicious warrior inside of me’ on Ciryl Gane in UFC 285 comeback fight

Jon Jones has no doubt he’s going to claim the vacant heavyweight title in his long-awaited octagon return at UFC 285. It’s just a matter of how.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] has no doubt he’s going to claim the vacant heavyweight title in his long-awaited octagon return at UFC 285 on Saturday. It’s just a matter of how.

Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) will return to the octagon after more than three years when he meets [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in a matchup to crown a new champion in the aftermath of [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag]’s departure from the company. The fight takes place at T-Mobile Arena and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

There are many uncertainties about “Bones” given his 37-month break between fights, as well as his change of weight class, and the fact he’s now 35. His comeback is clouded by mystery, and Jones said he’s ready to show the world what this current version of him is all about.

“I believe I know the answers to these questions,” Jones told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 285 media day. “I feel awesome. I feel like I move really well. I have great pride in my endurance. … I feel great. I feel like a stronger version of myself. I’m not super lean, I don’t have a mean six-pack like I used to. That took me a while to get used to back in the day. I would judge my fitness level by how I look in the mirror. I’m a heavyweight now. It’s not about what you look like. It’s about how you perform.”

Jones, a former longtime light heavyweight champion, said he feels as tenacious as ever as he looks to make history and become the eighth fighter in company history to capture belts in two weight classes. Jones thinks his drive for greatness is unmatched, and he intends to give every bit of himself to achieve victory.

“If I go out there and stand in front of him and let him get into his rhythm then I’m sure he would have bad intentions,” Jone said. “I won’t be lulled to sleep by him and be like, ‘Oh, I’m just happy to be here. It’s just a sport. Life goes on if I win or lose.’ I think I fight for something a little bit different. There’s a dog inside of me. During the ‘Countdown’ his coach was like, ‘For the Tai Tuivasa fight we focused on bringing out Ciryl’s dog.’ I don’t feel like that’s something your coach should have to teach you about being a dog.

“I know that at the end of the day, I have a dog in me. I have a lion in me. I have a vicious warrior inside of me. It’s who I am. Losing’s not an option because it’s not just a sporting event to me. This is my life. This is my image. This is my legacy. This is me. My reasons why are really big. I don’t know if his energy matches mine when it comes to the seriousness of how I take this fight and game.”

After news of Jones’ fight at UFC 285 was announced, he said this latest chapter of his career might only consist of a few fights. Now that fight week has arrived, he slightly changed his stance. Jones wants to be active in 2023, and after that, he will reevaluate what the future should hold.

“I can’t predict the future,” Jones said. “I speak very confidently. I have a lot of belief. I have a lot of faith. But I can’t predict the future. This fight could be an absolute war, or it could be like, ‘Wow, he just blew through Gane.’ I don’t know how it’s going to look. I think I’m just going to base it on how I’m performing, how I’m feeling. I take it one fight at a time and my goals for myself personally is to make this look easy and to fight at least two times this year, and then we’ll just take it from there.”

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

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Valentina Shevchenko made note of Alexa Grasso’s fears ahead of UFC 285: ‘I know her weak point’

The temperature got a bit cold at a UFC 285 news conference as Valentina Shevchenko responded to Alexa Grasso.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] has been through title fight after title fight in the UFC, an accolade exemplified by her cool, calm, and collected fight week demeanor.

“It’s as usual – emotions, nerves, everything is in their own place,” Shevchenko told MMA Junkie and other reporters during a UFC 285 pre-fight news conference Wednesday.

Shevchenko (23-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) then turned the temperature down a little bit and bordered on cold as she responded to something she heard opponent [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) say.

“I heard she mention, ‘Everyone has a weak point.’ Something like that. And she kind of will figure it out, where is this weak point,” Shevchenko told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “… I want to leave out my weak point, don’t forget about your weak point. Don’t forget about your fears. I know her fears. I know her weak point and I will use it in my game.”

As usual, Shevchenko presented an analytical dissection of her opposition, rather than emotional hyperbole during her matchup breakdown. Shevchenko gave Grasso credit for her spot as the next title challenger and hinted she thinks her opponent might find an issue if the fight hits the canvas.

“She is very good in what she’s doing,” Shevchenko said. “That’s why she is a contender for this bout, which is my next title defense. Yeah, I took everything seriously about her. I know she’s good in her striking, but we can also not forget we’re fighting mixed martial arts. I prepared for everything as usual. Yeah, (I’ll) just be very attentive for the whole fight and be myself and do everything I have to do to win the fight.”

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

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