UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that took place on March 4, 2023, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, United States.
Background
UFC 285 was a highly anticipated event, largely due to the return of former two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Jones, widely considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, had been inactive since February 2020 and was making his long-awaited debut in the heavyweight division. He was scheduled to face former interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane for the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship. The title had been vacated after Francis Ngannou's departure from the promotion earlier in 2023.
The co-main event featured a UFC Women's Flyweight Championship bout between then-champion Valentina Shevchenko and challenger Alexa Grasso. Shevchenko was defending her title for the eighth time, seeking to extend her dominant reign in the division.
Event Details
- Date: March 4, 2023
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, United States
- Attendance: 19,471
- Gate: $12,175,093.50 (the fifth-highest gate in UFC history at the time)
Fight Card and Results
Main Card (ESPN+ Pay-per-view)
- Heavyweight Championship Bout: Jon Jones defeated Ciryl Gane via Submission (guillotine choke) at 2:04 of Round 1 to win the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship.
- Women's Flyweight Championship Bout: Alexa Grasso defeated Valentina Shevchenko via Submission (face crank) at 4:34 of Round 4 to win the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship.
- Welterweight Bout: Shavkat Rakhmonov defeated Geoff Neal via Submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:17 of Round 3.
- Lightweight Bout: Mateusz Gamrot defeated Jalin Turner via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
- Middleweight Bout: Bo Nickal defeated Jamie Pickett via Submission (arm-triangle choke) at 2:54 of Round 1.
Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+)
- Lightweight Bout: Cody Garbrandt defeated Trevin Jones via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
- Middleweight Bout: Derek Brunson vs. Dricus du Plessis (canceled due to Brunson's withdrawal, replaced by Ian Garry).
- Bantamweight Bout: Mario Bautista defeated Guido Cannetti via Submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:18 of Round 1.
- Flyweight Bout: Amanda Ribas defeated Viviane Araújo via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27).
- Middleweight Bout: Marc-André Barriault defeated Julian Marquez via TKO (punches) at 4:12 of Round 2.
Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass)
- Welterweight Bout: Ian Garry defeated Song Kenan via TKO (punches) at 4:26 of Round 3.
- Catchweight (130 lb) Bout: Tabatha Ricci defeated Jessica Penne via Submission (armbar) at 2:14 of Round 2.
- Bantamweight Bout: Farid Basharat defeated Da'Mon Blackshear via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
- Lightweight Bout: Loik Radzhabov defeated Esteban Ribovics via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Significance and Aftermath
UFC 285 delivered several memorable moments and significant outcomes:
- Jon Jones' Heavyweight Title: Jon Jones' dominant first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane marked his successful transition to the heavyweight division and made him a two-division UFC champion. This cemented his legacy further and sparked discussions about his status as the greatest fighter of all time.
- Alexa Grasso's Upset: Alexa Grasso's submission win over Valentina Shevchenko was a major upset, ending Shevchenko's long-standing reign as the UFC Women's Flyweight Champion. It was one of the most surprising title changes in recent UFC history.
- Rising Stars: The event also showcased the continued rise of undefeated welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov, who secured another impressive finish, and the UFC debut of highly touted prospect Bo Nickal, who also earned a quick submission victory.
- Financial Success: The event was a significant commercial success, generating a substantial gate revenue, reflecting the high public interest, particularly in Jon Jones' return.