At one point, Jon Jones was ranked as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. The then-UFC light heavyweight champion, one of the most feared fighters in the world, held a firm grip on both titles.
Three years removed from the sport, he is ready to climb back up the mountain. Jones competes at heavyweight for the first time to face Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 for the vacant UFC heavyweight title on March 4.
Jones relinquished the UFC light heavyweight title following his last fought against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. For the past three years, Jones has attempted to prepare himself for a new division.
When he steps inside the octagon at UFC 285, it will be over 1,121 days since Jones last fought. During that time, there have been 21 new champions crowned in the UFC. One fighter has stood out the most by remaining champion during that timeframe.
Alexander Volkanovski won the UFC featherweight title in 2019 against Max Holloway. “The Great” became just that, winning four in a row during Jones’ absence.
While he lost his last fight against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, Volkanovski is still ranked as the top fighter in the UFC. Jones doesn’t mind if Volkanovski remains number one, even with a win at UFC 285. He has other goals in mind.
“Volkanovski has been very active, and I do believe that he deserves to be the top fighter in the world, him and Islam. I think Volkanovski kept that title after a loss.
He deserves it,” Jones stated during UFC 285 media day, via MMA Fighting. “He’s refreshing, he speaks well, his country loves him, he represents the sport well…
I’m fighting to be the greatest fighter ever, not to be the pound-for-pound best right now. We have two different motivations, and I think there’s room for both of us at the top.”
Jones faces Gane, ranked first in the heavyweight division. A former interim UFC heavyweight champion, the natural heavyweight in Gane will look to outwork Jones.
Normally a 205-pound fighter, can Jones handle the extra mass at heavyweight?
With the UFC stripping Francis Ngannou of the Heavyweight title and the former champ leaving the promotion, former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane and two-time light heavyweight champion Jon Jones battle for the heavyweight gold.
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Frenchman Ciryl Gane, whose only loss in professional mixed martial arts was against Ngannou at UFC 270 in a failed bid for the heavyweight title, is confident that he will be second time lucky against one of the G.O.A.Ts of mixed martial arts.
Who will be making his heavyweight debut at the championship scrap after a lengthy hiatus from the sport. The fight will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in the main event of UFC 285.
After three suspensions, two titles, and a three-year hiatus, Jon Jones makes his way to the Octagon to write a new chapter in his illustrious mixed martial arts career.
Arguably, the greatest martial artist, the 35-year-old American has broken all the records out there, beaten some of the best guys in the promotion, and after eleven light heavyweight title defenses, has stepped up to heavyweight to challenge for the heavyweight championship in a bid to become a tow-weight champ.
With one loss in his professional career, “Bones” stands out for his adaptability and flawless technique. His oblique kick targets his opponent’s knees, and in the clinch, he is excellent.
His last fight was a unanimous victory over Dominick Reyes in February 2020 in defense of his light heavyweight title. His resume includes wins over Daniel Cormier, Glover Teixeira, Thiago Santos, and Anthony Smith.
😭😭😭 JON JONES. Heavyweight Champion!!!! pic.twitter.com/FbxGEBz1px
— BOXING n BBQ (@BOXINGnBBQ) March 5, 2023