UFC 285: Jon Jones makes UFC heavyweight debut

Jon Jones (26-1, 1 NC) is considered by many experts and most UFC fans as the greatest fighter of all time. At one point Jones in the light heavyweight division was heralded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. Jones holds the UFC records for the longest unbeaten streak (18), title fight wins (14) and consecutive title defenses (11). Three years removed from the sport, Jones will look to cement his legacy in his debut in the heavyweight division. Former interim champion Ciryl Gane (11-1) is a formidable opponent in the UFC 285 main event this Saturday in Las Vegas.

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Weigh In

Earlier today, the official weigh-in took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The former UFC light heavyweight champion made good use of his time away from the octagon. Jones took to the scale with a noticeably more bulked-up frame officially weighing in at 248 pounds. It will be interesting to see how the excess weight affects Jones, who typically fights at 205 pounds.

Gane

The experienced heavyweight Gane weighed 247.5 pounds. During the Thursday media press conference at KA Theater in Las Vegas, Jones vowed Gane will understand how strong he is once he is on top of him. Jon Jones also attributes his familiarity with “tussling heavyweight” to wrestling his brother Arthur Jones since birth and training with UFC legends such as Frank Mir.

Gane is no walk in the park when it comes to the octagon. He is coming off a third-round knockout victory against Tai Tuivasa in September. Gane is a France native who expressed during the media day press conference Thursday, it’s unexplainable but his skill set makes him different in MMA. Gane, 32, may very well be different winning eight of his nine fights in the UFC. His only loss was to Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 in January 2022. Ngannou has since departed from the UFC as a free agent with the heavyweight title now vacant.

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Jones Comeback

To climb the mountain of the UFC heavyweight division is no easy feat. If any fighter is up to the task it will be Jon Jones. Jones proclaimed during the Thursday media press conference his confidence in mixed martial arts comes from his lord and savior Jesus Christ. Be it as it may, the next challenge for the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world may indeed take divine intervention. Jones could finish the story of one of the greatest comebacks in modern-day sports history.

The main stage for the main event of UFC 285 will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.