UFC 285 – Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel, undercard for heavyweight title fight
JON JONES will make his long-awaited return to the octagon in the main event of UFC 285 – THREE years after his last fight.
And the former dominant light-heavyweight champion will FINALLY be making his long-anticipated heavyweight debut.
GETTYFormer pound-for-pound king Jon Jones makes his long-awaited return at UFC 285[/caption]
Jones will be welcomed back to the octagon by Ciryl GaneGETTYGETTYJones and Gane will vie for the vacant UFC heavyweight title[/caption]
INSTAGRAM@JONNYBONESJones has put on several pounds of muscle for his heavyweight debut[/caption]
Jones, 35, will challenge French Muay Thai phenom Ciryl Gane for the vacant UFC heavyweight title.
The belt became up for grabs in January after former champion Francis Ngannou left the promotion after failing to agree a new contract.
Should Jones get his hands on the strap, he’ll become a two-division champion, and, in the eyes of many, cement his status as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.
Elsewhere on the card, dominant women’s flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko will defend her title against Alexa Grasso.
And welterweight sensation Shavkat Rakhmonov will look to prove he’s a legitimate contender with a statement victory over Geoff Neal.
When is UFC 285 – Jones vs Gane?
Jon Jones’ historic clash with Ciryl Gane will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 4.
Close to 20,000 fans will be in attendance to see Jones’s bid to become a two-weight world champion.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
UFC 285 will be shown live on BT Sport 1 in the UK and Ireland.
The prelims will get underway at 11pm on UFC Fight Pass before switching to BT Sport 1 at 1am.
The stacked main card will get underway 3am.
Fans can live stream the action from the BT Sport app, which is available for download on your mobile or tablet device.
The mouthwatering main event is expected to get underway at around 5am UK time on Sunday, March 5.
Will there be an event replay?
BT Sport will re-air UFC 285 less than 24 hours after the event has finished.
Those wishing to watch it on their TV will have to wait until around 10pm UK time.
While those eager to watch online will be able to view the highlights through the BT Sport app or official website.
Jon Jones hasn’t set foot inside the octagon in nearly three yearsGETTYVictory over Gane will see Jones become a two-weight world championGETTY
UFC 285 Full Card
Main card
Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane – heavyweight title fightValentina Shevchenko (c) vs Alexa Grasso – women’s flyweight title fightGeoff Neal vs Shavkat RakhmonovJalin Turner vs Mateusz GamrotBo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett
Prelims
Derek Brunson vs Dricus du PlessisIan Garry vs Son KenanViviane Araujo vs Amanda RibasJulian Marquez vs Marc-Andre BarriaultJessica Penne vs Tabatha RicciDa’Mon Blackshear vs Farid BasharatKamuela Kirk vs Esteban Ribovics
Last fight results
Hall of Famer Jones was last in action at UFC 247 in February 2020 against Dominick Reyes in what proved to be his final outing at light-heavyweight.
Jones retained his light-heavyweight crown with a unanimous decision victory, although many thought he lost the final.
Gane, meanwhile, bounced from defeat in his unification bout with Ngannou last January with a stunning third-round TKO victory over fan favourite Tai Tuivasa in Paris last September.
APJon Jones was last in action against Dominick Reyes three years ago[/caption]
GETTYCiryl Gane, meanwhile, bested Tai Tuivasa last September[/caption]
What’s been said?
Jones said: “It’s kind of short time for me. I wish I had a little bit more time to prepare
“This idea of preparing for a new opponent in about six or seven weeks, I’ve done it before and I think it’s more than enough time.
“I would have liked more time, but I do think that this is a good amount of time, I feel great.”
On an elusive clash with Ngannou, the former pound-for-pound king told RMC Sport: “I don’t think I deserve any criticism.
“I’m here. Francis had the opportunity to face me and he opted out of the opportunity.
“If anyone should be criticized, it’s Francis Ngannou.
“If I’m correct, he was offered the biggest contract in Heavyweight history.
“He had the opportunity to be a guy that dethroned me and he didn’t believe in himself. He wasn’t willing to gamble on himself.”
Gane said: “I know I’ve got good footwork at first, I think I’m a little bit more well-rounded [than Francis Ngannou].
“I look a little bit more like Jon Jones.
“Yes, when you have a big guy that just wants to kill you with one punch, it’s more easier for a guy well-rounded and smart like Jon Jones to manage the situation.
“Me, also, I am not like that. I like to manage the situation. It’s going to be really good.”
