2023 mixed martial arts event
UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 4, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada , part of the Las Vegas metropolitan area , United States.[ 2]
Background
Jones
(left) became the eighth
multi-division champion in the promotion's history , as well as the third man to become heavyweight and light heavyweight champion. If victorious, Gane
(right) would have become the UFC's first ever French undisputed champion.
A UFC Heavyweight Championship bout for the vacant title between former two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and former interim champion Ciryl Gane headlined the event.[ 3] Former champion Francis Ngannou was stripped of the title on January 14 and released from the promotion due to a contract dispute.[ 4] [ 5] Sergei Pavlovich served as backup and potential replacement for this fight.[ 6]
A UFC Women's Flyweight Championship bout between current champion Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso served as the event's co-main event.[ 7]
A women's strawweight bout between former UFC Women's Strawweight Championship challenger and inaugural Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Jessica Penne and Tabatha Ricci took place at the event.[ 8] They were previously scheduled to meet at UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan but the bout was scrapped as Penne withdrew due to illness.[ 9]
A welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Shavkat Rakhmonov took place at this event.[ 10] They were previously expected to meet at UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov but Neal withdrew due to injury.[ 11] At the weigh-ins, Neal weighed in at 175 pounds, four pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Neal was fined 30% of his purse, which went to Rakhmonov.[ 12]
A middleweight bout between promotional newcomer Bo Nickal and Jamie Pickett took place at this event.[ 13] They were previously expected to meet at UFC 282 but Nickal withdrew due to injury.[ 14]
A bantamweight bout between former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt and Julio Arce was expected to take place at the event.[ 15] However, Arce withdrew in late January due to a knee injury and was replaced by Trevin Jones .[ 16] [ 17]
A lightweight bout between Jalin Turner and Dan Hooker was scheduled for the event.[ 18] However, Hooker was forced to withdraw from the event citing a hand injury.[ 19] He was replaced by former KSW Featherweight and Lightweight Champion Mateusz Gamrot .[ 20]
A lightweight bout between Kamuela Kirk and Esteban Ribovics was scheduled for the event.[ 21] However, Kirk withdrew from the event for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Loik Radzhabov.[ 22]
Also at the weigh-ins, Leomana Martinez weighed in at 137 pounds, one pound over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight with Martinez being fined 30% of his purse, which went to his opponent Cameron Saaiman .[ 12]
Road House , a remake of the 1989 film of the same name , had some of its scenes filmed during fight week, featuring actor Jake Gyllenhaal and UFC veteran Jay Hieron . It included a weigh-in scene and an actual fight sequence that was shot after the last bout of the early preliminary card, including UFC cage announcer Bruce Buffer and MMA referee Chris Tognoni.[ 23] [ 24]
Results
Main card
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Heavyweight
Jon Jones
def.
Ciryl Gane
Submission (guillotine choke)
1
2:04
[ a]
Women's Flyweight
Alexa Grasso
def.
Valentina Shevchenko (c)
Submission (face crank)
4
4:34
[ b]
Catchweight (175 lb)
Shavkat Rakhmonov
def.
Geoff Neal
Submission (rear-naked choke)
3
4:17
Lightweight
Mateusz Gamrot
def.
Jalin Turner
Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27)
3
5:00
Middleweight
Bo Nickal
def.
Jamie Pickett
Submission (arm-triangle choke)
1
2:54
Preliminary card (ESPNews / ESPN+)
Bantamweight
Cody Garbrandt
def.
Trevin Jones
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Middleweight
Dricus du Plessis
def.
Derek Brunson
TKO (corner stoppage)
2
4:59
Women's Flyweight
Amanda Ribas
def.
Viviane Araújo
Decision (unanimous) (29–27, 30–26, 30–27)
3
5:00
Middleweight
Marc-André Barriault
def.
Julian Marquez
TKO (punches)
2
4:12
Early preliminary card (ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass)
Welterweight
Ian Garry
def.
Song Kenan
TKO (punches)
3
4:22
Catchweight (137 lb)
Cameron Saaiman
def.
Leomana Martinez
Decision (majority) (29–26, 28–27, 28–28)
3
5:00
[ c]
Women's Strawweight
Tabatha Ricci
def.
Jessica Penne
Submission (armbar)
2
2:14
Bantamweight
Farid Basharat
def.
Da'Mon Blackshear
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Lightweight
Loik Radzhabov
def.
Esteban Ribovics
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
[ 25]
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[ 26]
Fight of the Night: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Geoff Neal [ a]
Performance of the Night: Jon Jones , Alexa Grasso , and Bo Nickal
Aftermath
This event won the Fans Choice UFC Honors 2023 Event of the Year .[ 27]
Notes
^ Despite missing weight, Neal was still awarded his share of the bonus.
See also
References
^ a b Mike Bohn (2023-03-05). "UFC 285 post-event facts: Jon Jones enters a class of his own with heavyweight title win" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-05 .
^ Nolan King (2022-12-08). "UFC officially announces early 2023 schedule: Dates, locations, and venues" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-12-09 .
^ Mike Bohn (2023-01-14). "Francis Ngannou released; Jon Jones returns, meets Ciryl Gane for newly vacated heavyweight title at UFC 285" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-01-14 .
^ Danny Segura and Ken Hathaway (2023-01-14). "Dana White: Francis Ngannou rejected deal to become highest paid heavyweight in UFC history" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-01-15 .
^ Shakiel Mahjouri (2023-01-14). "UFC releases heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou from contract, strips him of title" . cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-01-14 .
^ Lucas Rezende (2023-02-28). "Report: Sergei Pavlovich to be backup for Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC 285" . bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2023-02-28 .
^ Staff (2023-01-18). "Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso title fight added to UFC 285" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-01-18 .
^ Nolan King (2022-11-24). "UFC books Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci for March 4 event" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-11-24 .
^ Staff (2022-09-30). "Jessica Penne illness scraps UFC Fight Night 211 bout with Tabatha Ricci" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-09-30 .
^ Mike Bohn (2023-01-04). "Geoff Neal vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov rescheduled for UFC 285 in March" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04 .
^ Tristen Critchfield (2022-10-08). "Welterweights Geoff Neal, Shavkat Rakhmonov to clash at UFC Fight Night on Jan. 14" . sherdog.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04 .
^ a b Staff (2023-03-03). "UFC 285 weigh-in results: Title fights set, but two come in heavy in Las Vegas" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-03 .
^ Frank Bonada (2023-01-08). "Report – Bo Nickal vs. Jamie Pickett rebooked for UFC 285" . lowkickmma.com. Retrieved 2023-01-08 .
^ Nolan King (2022-10-21). "Bo Nickal off UFC 282 vs. Jamie Pickett; promotion targeting new debut plans" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-10-21 .
^ Jay Anderson (2022-12-14). "Cody Garbrandt set for bantamweight fight with Julio Arce at UFC 285" . cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2023-01-30 .
^ Farah Hannoun (2023-01-30). "Julio Arce out of Cody Garbrandt fight at UFC 285, needs surgery for injured knee" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-01-30 .
^ Danny Segura (2023-02-03). "With Julio Arce out, Cody Garbrandt gets replacement Trevin Jones for UFC 285" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-02-03 .
^ Evan Wheeler (2023-01-24). "Dan Hooker vs. Jalin Turner booked for UFC 285 in March" . fightful.com. Retrieved 2023-02-09 .
^ Nolan King (2023-02-08). "Injured Dan Hooker out of UFC 285 bout vs. Jalin Turner" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-02-09 .
^ Zane Simon (2023-02-14). "Report: Mateusz Gamrot replaces Dan Hooker, fights Jalin Turner at UFC 285" . bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2023-02-14 .
^ Steve Duncan (2023-01-06). "Esteban Ribovics will make his official debut on the UFC 285 card" . mma.uno. Retrieved 2023-01-06 . (in Spanish)
^ Steve Duncan (2023-02-26). "Kirk out, Loik Radzhabov faces Esteban Ribovics at UFC 285" . mma.uno. Retrieved 2023-02-27 . (in Spanish)
^ Victoria Hernandez (2023-03-04). "Jake Gyllenhaal slap at UFC 285 weigh-ins for 'Road House' scene goes viral" . usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-04 .
^ Nolan King and Mike Bohn (2023-03-04). "Watch Jake Gyllenhaal score a vicious knockout filming 'Road House' fight scene at UFC 285" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-04 .
^ "UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane" . Ultimate Fighting Championship. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-14 .
^ Matt Erickson (2023-03-05). "UFC 285 bonuses: New champs among $50,000 winners in Las Vegas" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-05 .
^ UFC Staff (2024-04-18). "UFC Honors Fan's Choice Awards 2023" . ufc.com. Retrieved 2025-01-13 .
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