UFC 285 Tips: Jones vs Gane

<p>The time has finally arrived.</p> <p>After a 1,121 day hiatus, the man who is widely considered to be the best fighter in the history of the UFC, Jon 'Bones' Jones makes his highly anticipated return to the Octagon <em>and</em>&nbsp;his heavyweight debut against the Frenchman Ciryl Gane. Jones last fought in 2020 but given his extensive resume he's been offered a shot at the vacant heavyweight title after former&nbsp;champion Francis Ngannou &amp; the UFC couldnt come to an agreement on a new contract. Ngannou&nbsp;famously left the UFC to pursue a boxing career, leaving the heavyweight championship up for grabs.</p> <p>The co-main event also see's Valentina Shevchenko defend her flyweight titile against up &amp; comer, Alexa Grasso. This will be Shevchenko's eighth defence of her title if she's successful on Sunday.&nbsp;</p> <p>On top of these title fights, there's some huge matchups on the main card as well as a few must watch fighters battling it out in the prelims.&nbsp;</p> <p>Check out our previews of the upcoming bouts &amp; our tips below.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-285/ian-garry-v-song-kenan-7159418">Ian Garry vs Song Kenan</a></p> <p>The fact that this fight is in the Early Prelims is a testament to the depth of this card. The Irishman, Ian Garry is 10-0 and is one of the elite emerging talents in the welterweight division. He's facing Song Kenan, who's 4-1 in his UFC career. Garry's last 2 fights have gone the distance, and his record shows that he's not a huge finisher. He should walk away with the win over Kenan, but its looking like a decision victory.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Ian Garry to Win via Decision</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-285/derek-brunson-v-dricus-du-plessis-7113941">Derek Brunson vs Dricus Du Plessis</a></p> <p>This bout see's two ranked middleweights meet in the Octagon whose careers are on very different trajectories. Brunson is 39 years old and has been a staple in the UFC for over 10 years. He was having a decent career resurgence with a 5-win streak until he met Jarod Cannonier at UFC 271 and went down in the 2nd round. Brunson has had a great career, but his best days look to behind him.</p> <p>While Brunson is on his way down, Du Plessis is on the come up. the 29-year-old South African is undefeated after 4 fights in the UFC and is out to claim his biggest scalp yet in Brunson. He boasts an 18-2 record, and his biggest win came only 3 months ago when he won via submission against Darren Till.&nbsp;</p> <p>While you have to respect Brunson and everything he's accomplished, it’s hard to look past Du Plessis getting his hand raised on Sunday.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tip: </strong>Dricus Du Plessis to Win</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-285/cody-garbrandt-v-trevin-jones-7159414">Cody Garbrandt vs Trevin Jones</a></p> <p>The fact that Cody Garbrandt is fighting in a Prelim fight is criminal. He's had a fall from grace since his unbeaten run which saw him win the Bantamweight Title in 2016, but you can’t discount a champion. 'No Love' is facing Trevin Jones who is also on a 3-fight loss streak.&nbsp;</p> <p>Garbrandt loves to throw his hands, with&nbsp;10 of his 12 wins coming via knockout. While this is impressive in itself, you need to consider the iron chin of Trevin Jones. He's had 9 losses in his career but none of those had come via KO. He's been submitted twice, and all other losses have come via decision.&nbsp;</p> <p>It looks like this fight will go the distance with Garbrandt's expertise and striking helping him claim victory.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Cody Garbrandt to Win via Decision</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-285/bo-nickal-v-jamie-pickett-7159417">Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett</a></p> <p>An interesting match-up to kick off the main event as newcomer Bo Nickal takes on Jamie Pickett in a Middleweight clash. Not much is known about Bo Nickal with only 3 MMA fights to his name (all 3 are wins). However, one look at his busted-up ears and you know he's got some wrestling experience. Nickal is a three-time D-1 National champion wrestler and four-time all American, which translates extremely well to the MMA world.&nbsp;</p> <p>Jamie Pickett is currently 13-8 and he's only managed 2 wins in his 6 fights in the UFC. You can't help but feel he’s being fed to the wolves here in an effort to build Nickal’s profile.&nbsp;</p> <p>Given Nickal's&nbsp;wrestling experience we’ll be seeing Pickett tap before the three rounds is up.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tip: </strong>Bo Nickal to Win via Submission</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-285/jalin-turner-v-mateusz-gamrot-7159455">Mateusz Gamrot vs Jalin Turner</a></p> <p>Up next, we've got the #7 ranked lightweight Mateusz Gamrot taking on #10 ranked Jalin Turner. This will be an interesting matchup to watch. In a stacked lightweight division, these two will be looking to make a name for themselves and you have to think that whoever wins this will be 1-2 fights away from a shot at the belt.&nbsp;</p> <p>Gamrot is looking to bounce back after his loss to contender Beneil Dariush while Turner is on a 5-win streak (all via stoppage). It's hard to pick a winner here. Given Gamrot's 2 losses have come via decision and it’s his preferred method of victory, this one seems like it'll go the distance.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Fight to go the distance</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-285/geoff-neal-v-shavkat-rakhmonov-7120490">Geoff Neal vs Shavkat Rakhmonov</a></p> <p>Owner of one of the better nicknames in the competition, Geoff 'Hands of Steel' Neal takes on the 'Nomad' Shavkat Rakhmonov in a battle of the welterweights. Much like the Gamrot/Turner fight, both fighters sit in the top #10 rankings for their division and a win here will see them one step closer to a chance at the title.</p> <p>Rakhmonov has never lost in his career and it’s easy to see why. The man from Kazakhstan is a natural wrestler and a super-efficient striker. Geoff Neal has a few losses to his name, but he's been in the UFC for a while now and he's not one to be underestimated.&nbsp;</p> <p>Given his history, its looking like&nbsp;Shavkat Rakhmonov will be extending his record to 17-0 and moving his way up to battle the elite in the welterweight division.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tip:&nbsp;</strong>Shavkat Rakhmonov Win via KO</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-285/valentina-shevchenko-v-alexa-grasso-7112912">Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso</a></p> <p>In the first title fight of the night, we get to see the 'Bullet' Valentina Shevchenko defend her title for the 8th time. Shevchenko only has 2 losses in her 14 fight UFC career and both of those have been to Amanda Nunes. Shevchenko is a dominating force in the women’s flyweight division and its hard to imagine someone managing to take her belt off her.&nbsp;</p> <p>Alexa Grasso is 15-3 in her career and is coming off a big win against Viviane Araujo at UFC Fight Night 212 where she won via decision after 5 rounds. That experience in the 'championship' rounds will come in handy on Sunday.&nbsp;</p> <p>With the greatest of respect to Grasso, she doesn't represent a challenge to Shevchenko who has triumphed against tougher competition and bigger names. It should be an easy win for Valentina Shevchenko and another title defence to add to her record.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tip: </strong>Valentina Shevchenko to Win</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-285/jon-jones-v-ciryl-gane-7069871">Jon Jones vs Ciryl&nbsp;Gane</a></p> <p>Finally, the fight we've all been waiting for.&nbsp;</p> <p>Eager fight fans have waited over 3 years for the return of Jon Jones, and it will finally happen in the form of a heavyweight title fight with contender, Ciryl Gane.&nbsp;</p> <p>A brief recap on Jon 'Bones' Jones - he’s 26-1 in his career, with his one loss being a point of contention in the MMA world. He was disqualified due to illegal elbows against Matt Hamill in 2009. A lot of fighters and even Dana White himself have come out and said it was the wrong decision, tainting what would be a perfect record.&nbsp;</p> <p>He's meeting Ciryl Gane who's coming off a KO win against our very own Tai Tuivasa. Before that he lost via decision against then champion Francis Ngannou in a title fight. He's 11-1 in his career and is a force to be reckoned with, an accomplished grappler and a deadly striker.&nbsp;</p> <p>There's a lot to consider when trying to pick a winner. Jones has the resume, but you have to imagine he's going to be rusty without any fight experience in the last 3 years. Not only that, but he's traditionally fought in light heavyweight. This will be his first foray into the heavyweight division, and it will be a trial by fire against Gane.&nbsp;</p> <p>Although Jones is coming in as the favourite, it's hard to look past Ciryl Gane here,&nbsp;He's got the recent fight experience, conditioning and skills to get it done. Regardless of the outcome, it’s going to be a great battle that will top off a huge night of fights.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Ciryl Gane to Win</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Not avaliable in SA.&nbsp;</em></p>