UFC 285 goes down this weekend at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the main event, Jon Jones takes on Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title.
Jones last fought three years ago at UFC 247, where he defended his light heavyweight title by a controversial decision against Dominick Reyes. A few months later, he vacated his title to move up to heavyweight, which he will make at UFC 285 against Ciryl Gane, who’s only lost to Francis Ngannou in his MMA career.
UFC 285: Jones vs Gane Analysis And Prediction
Jones is arguably the greatest of all time, and if he wins the heavyweight title come fight night, he believes there will be a lot of daylight between him and his peers. A wrestling phenom with phenomenal striking and a fight IQ that is through the roof, Jones is a puzzle nobody has been able to solve. Standing in his way is Gane, who is the best kickboxer in the heavyweight division, and is constantly raising the bar for the other strikers in his division. A supremely technical kickboxer with a fast-evolving wrestling game, the Frenchman is one of the most talented fighters in the UFC, and many believe he’s a tougher fight for Jones than Francis Ngannou.
As good a striker as Jones is, he will have his work cut out for him for as long as the fight stays on the feet. Gane’s movement and distance management are exceptional, and on top of that, he’s a physical specimen. Jones has struggled against bigger opponents in the past, and that’s why many believe Gane will cause him all sorts of problems on the feet. Jones is also coming off a lengthy lay-off, so there is the possibility of ring rust. That said, Jones has enough tools in her arsenal to make it competitive on the feet.
Jones’ wrestling will play a key role in the fight. Against Ngannou at UFC 270, Gane was taken down a number of times and struggled to cope with his wrestling and strength. Although Jones isn’t as strong as Ngannou, he is way more technical, and if he can land the takedowns and control ‘Bon Gamin’ on the mat, he will leave the arena with the heavyweight belt wrapped around his waist. Taking down a big guy like Gane will be a tough ask, however.
All in all, it’ll be a competitive fight, with Gane getting his hand raised on the night.
Prediction: Ciryl Gane by decision
Betting Odds:
Jon Jones (-165)
Ciryl Gane (+140)
Who do you think will win the vacant heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane at UFC 285?
