Jon Jones to headline UFC 285 in heavyweight title fight
Jon Jones arrives for his light heavyweight title bout against Rashad Evans for UFC 145 at Philips Arena on April 21, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. Credit: Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox
LAS VEGAS — UFC 285 got a major boost Saturday when UFC President Dana White announced Jon Jones will fight for the heavyweight title March 4 against Ciryl Gane at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Jones (26-1) will make his first appearance since February 2020 when he beat Dominick Reyes to defend his light heavyweight championship. He then vacated the title in hopes of getting a shot at the heavyweight belt.
White said he offered former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou the richest deal for a heavyweight in UFC history to fight Jones, but he turned it down. So White turned to Gane (11-1).
“Many believe, including me, (Jones is) the best of all time," White said. "Jon Jones has been ready, willing and able to fight anybody. He didn't care who it was.”
