Jon Jones to make his return at UFC 285 in heavyweight title bout vs Ciryl Gane

It’s been practically three years since Jon Jones defeated Dominick Reyes by way of unanimous determination at UFC 247 in February 2020. On Saturday, UFC president Dana White introduced that he’s again.

Jones will battle Ciryl Gane at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas on March 4 for the heavyweight title. The bout will headline UFC 285. Towards Reyes, he defended his gentle heavyweight championship and since then has been bulking as much as tackle the heavyweight division within the combined martial arts promotion.

The announcement got here after the corporate was unable to strike a brand new take care of present champion Francis Ngannou. White stated he supplied Ngannou the richest deal for a heavyweight in UFC historical past to battle Jones however he turned it down. So White turned to Gane.

“I’ve informed you guys this earlier than – should you do not wish to be right here, you do not have to be,” White stated, by way of ESPN. “I believe Francis is in a spot proper now the place he does not wish to take lots of danger. He appears like he is in an excellent place the place he may battle lesser opponents and make more cash. We’ll let him do this, launch him from his contract and quit our proper to match.”

White had excessive reward for Jones.

Ciryl Gane celebrates after defeatingTai Tuivasa throughout the Final Preventing Championship occasion on the Accor Area in Paris, on Sept. 3, 2022.
(Julien de Rosa/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)

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“Many consider, together with me, he’s one of the best of all time,” White stated. “Jon Jones has been prepared, keen and in a position to battle anyone. He did not care who it was.”

Jones is 26-1 all time and Gane is 11-1.

“Once I began watching this, Jon Jones was one in all my favourite fighters,” Gane informed reporters on the UFC Vegas 67 post-event press convention, by way of MMA Preventing. “Extra once I began MMA, as a result of I’m a fan of each sport in MMA, and once you have a look at a man like Jon Jones, who’s well-rounded like this, you actually admire it. He’s the GOAT. Have a look at his profession.

“Right this moment, I’m a younger fighter, and I believe it’s the dream of each younger fighter to battle in opposition to a GOAT. That is actually loopy for me.”

Jon Jones stands in his nook previous to his gentle heavyweight championship bout at Toyota Middle on Feb. 8, 2020, in Houston, Texas.
(Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Pictures))

The Jones and Gane bout is the primary official match on the UFC 285 card.

The Related Press contributed to this report.