UFC 285: Jon Jones defeats Ciryl Gane in ‘insane’ three-minute demolition
The UFC world has been left stunned after returning legend Jon Jones took three minutes spring a massive upset and write himself into history.
UFC
Don't miss out on the headlines from UFC. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Wow, that was quick.
Jon Jones needed just three minutes to defeat Ciryl Gane and cement himself as arguably the greatest UFC fighter of all time.
The 35-year-old returned to the octagon in emphatic fashion, defeating Gane via a clinical first round submission to stun the MMA world.
Watch UFC 285: Jones v Gane LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday March 5 from 2pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
Jones wasted no time taking Gane down to the canvas and up against the fence, where he quickly got his wrist under the Frenchman’s chin in a tight chokehold.
It was a nasty choke that forced Gane to tap out almost immediately, and that was all she wrote.
Jones, the former light heavyweight champion, is now the undisputed heavyweight champion and becomes just the eighth fighter to conquer two UFC divisions.
He also becomes the first fighter to win 15 UFC championship fights.
Jon jones is the baddest man on the planet. ðŸ
— Dane Swan (@swandane) March 5, 2023
Jon Jones is unbeaten in 19 straight fights. He is 15-0 in UFC title fights. 15-0! The GOAT debate is dead and buried. #UFC285
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) March 5, 2023
Jon Jones is the first fighter in UFC history to win 15 championship bouts. Absolutely insane. #UFC285
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) March 5, 2023
It was unclear how Jones would fare in the cage, given he hadn’t fought since 2020 and packed on some serious weight to make the move up to heavyweight.
But after Francis Ngannou vacated the heavyweight title by leaving the UFC, Jones is suddenly a champion again.
Jones improved his record to 21-1-0 and he has never lost a UFC fight.
The emphatic victory will only strengthen his claims to being the greatest fighter of all time, and it seems there’s plenty of life left in him.
Gane was left stunned by the ease of Jones victory, but there was nothing he could do.
UFC commentator Jon Anik said: “He still looks shook. He still looks in total disbelief.”
The victory was even more impressive given Jones had to remove tape from his foot as he was entering the octagon and copped a kick to the groin just seconds into the fight.
It was the only blow Gane managed to land.
Earlier, Hollywood actor Jake Gyllenhaal stole the show with a stunning knockout win in Las Vegas after turning heads with his chiselled physique at the weigh-in.
Jones vs Gane round-by-round updates
Round 1: Wow. Jones needed just a couple of minutes to take the win via submission in the first round.
Jones secured an early takedown and had Gane up against the fence in a tight choke under Gane’s chin. The Frenchman tapped out in seconds and that was all she wrote.
4.45pm - Jones hit by tape drama
There was some drama when Jon Jones was ordered to remove tape that was wrapped around his left foot as he was about to enter the octagon.
The tape was cut off but he was allowed to keep the tape that was wrapped around his left big toe.
4.20pm - Flyweight champ’s reign is over
There is a new women’s UFC flyweight champion.
In a massive upset, Alexa Grasso defeated Valentina Shevchenko via submission to end one of the longest reigns of dominance in UFC.
Shevchenko had been flyweight champion since 2018 but in her eighth title defence, Grasso took the belt.
Grasso was the more attacking fighter and swooped in the fourth round when a spinning leg kick by Shevchenko didn’t land and Grasso jumped on her back, nailing a textbook rear naked choke.
OH MY GOD WHAT A MOMENT. ALL TIME UPSET.
— Ryan McKinnell (@RyanMcKinnell) March 5, 2023
Grasso immortalized *forever* #UFC285
Holy shit!!!!! Grasso!!!!!!!!! #UFC285
— Aaron Simpson (@aaronsimpson) March 5, 2023
3.45pm - Welterweight chokes his way to victory
UFC’s welterweight division has been put on notice after Shavkat Rakhmonov claimed a scary victory over Geoff Neal.
The pair fought out a war and both absorbed heavy blows, before Rakhmonov got Neal in a rare standing choke in the third round and his opponent had no choice but to tap out.
Just look at Geoff Neal's face... #UFC285pic.twitter.com/z3zLPX9fZp
— Shakiel Mahjouri (@Shak_Fu) March 5, 2023
a standing rear naked choke … good grief. #UFC285
— Brandon Caldwell (@_brandoc) March 5, 2023
And after all of that, Shavkat just strangled Neal to the finish. Holy shit, man, that was nuts. #UFC285
— Jack Crosby (@JCrosbyCBS) March 5, 2023
It was a brutal way to claim victory and Rakhmonov now has 17 finishes from 17 fights, with no losses.
The No. 9 ranked welterweight said he’s now ready for a title fight, or at least take on Colby Covington.
3pm - Joe Rogan wowed by UFC debut
It seems Bo Nickal is the real deal after the former wrestler defeated Jamie Pickett in his UFC debut.
Nickal secured a first round win via submission as Pickett was forced to tap out of an arm-triangle choke.
Joe Rogan declared in commentary: “The hype is real.”
“Here is the problem with this much hype. When you have such a spectacular debut on pay-per-view, your next fights are in the deep end of the pool and with very little MMA experience.”
It moves Nickal’s MMA record to 4-0 and he couldn’t have had a more impressive UFC debut.
2pm - Gyllenhaal stuns UFC world again
Jake Gyllenhaal has stunned the UFC world for the second time in as many days with a brutal ‘knockout’ win at UFC 285.
The Hollywood actor turned heads on Saturday when he appeared at the weigh in, where he was filming a scene for the remake of the cult classic film Road House.
But the 2023 version is set to reimagine the story with a former UFC fighter, played by Gyllenhaal, taking the main role in the film. And the UFC wanted in on the action.
Gyllenhaal, who plays Elwood Dalton, left fans stunned as the Hollywood star weighed in for the fictional middleweight title bout against champion Jax Harris, cutting an absolutely shredded figure.
And the 42-year-old wowed MMA fans once again when he stepped in the octagon at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Sunday (AEDT) to film another scene.
A pumped-up Gyllenhall was seen doing a full walkout to the ring, before he proceeded to secure a vicious knockout win over his opponent.
FLYING KNEE FROM GYLLENHAAL! WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION! pic.twitter.com/qcfTlQdLEw
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 5, 2023
He was taking on Jay Hieron, who is playing Harris in the fictional middleweight bout.
Gyllenhaal won the faux fight, absorbing a couple of blows before launching into Hieron with an uppercut and a flying knee kick.
He even finished the job with extra punches, pushing away the referee who tried to step in to stop the fight.
12.45pm - McGregor, Drake curse to strike Jones?
UFC fans are concerned Jon Jones could fall victim to so-called curses from Conor McGregor and Drake.
Jones is contesting his first fight in three years and some supporters are worried the legend might suffer an injury in his return to the octagon.
Superstitious fans have pointed out UFC legends Chris Weidman, Anderson Silva and McGregor all suffered horrific leg breaks in the latter stages of their careers.
McGregor hasn’t fought since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
The Irishman caught up with Jones at the pre-fight weigh-in, prompting some fans to wonder if McGregor might have cursed Jones against Gane, who is a leg-kick-heavy fighter.
One fan said: “Don’t jinx Jones.”
A second commented: “Jones’ return fight will end the same way.”
Another chimed in: “I hope not but if Jon jones breaks his legs, that would be f***in’ insane.”
And in another bad sign for Jones, rapper Drake has bet A$369,000 on Jones to win via submission and another $369,000 for Jones to knock Gane out.
If his bet gets up, Draker will pocket $2.5m if Jones wins via submission or $1.9m in a knockout victory.
Here’s hoping the Drake curse doesn’t strike again.
Drake is renowned for wagering huge amounts of money on sporting events but losing his bets, most recently when Jake Paul lost his boxing fight to Tommy Fury.
UFC 285 Main Fight Card
Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane - heavyweight
Alexa Grasso def Valentina Shevchenko via submission (R44, rear naked choke)
Shavkat Rakhmonov def Geoff Neal via submission (R3, standing rear naked choke)
Mateusz Gamrot def Jalin Turner via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 28-29)
Bo Nickal def Jamie Pickett via submission (R1)
Prelims
Cody Garbrandt def. Trevin Jones via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Dricus Du Plessis def. Derek Brunson via second-round TKO (4:59) | Watch finish
Amanda Ribas def. Viviane Araujo via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-27)
Marc-Andre Barriault def. Julian Marquez via second-round TKO (4:12)
Ian Machado Garry def. Song Kenan via third-round TKO (4:22) | Watch finish
Cameron Saaiman def. Leomana Martinez via majority decision (29-26, 28-27, 28-28)
Tabatha Ricci def. Jessica Penne via sub (armbar) (R2, 2:14)
Farid Basharat def. Da’Mon Blackshear via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Loik Radzhabov def. Esteban Ribovics via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Originally published as UFC 285: Jon Jones defeats Ciryl Gane in ‘insane’ three-minute demolition
Zero cares: The Chimaev whispers that don’t worry Whittaker
Rob Whittaker is prepared for a hostile reception when he walks out to fight Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308, but what he does not concern him is his opponent’s history of illness and struggling to make weight.
Read more
Aussie UFC star’s nervous wait for revenge
Alex Volkanovski is ready to rumble again, but he faces a “tricky” dilemma as he looks to win his UFC belt back on home soil next year.
Read more