Jon Jones Returns and Dominates Ciryl Gane – UFC 285

LAS VEGAS – Jon Jones made his much-anticipated return to the Octagon after more than three years and moved up to the heavyweight division for the first time, defeating Ciryl Gane via first-round submission to win the vacant UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 285 held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

The fight began with Jones throwing a leg kick, and Gane responding with a counter strike that landed in Jones’s groin, causing a brief halt in the action. When the fight resumed, Jones wasted no time taking the fight to the ground, taking Gane’s back and securing a guillotine choke that forced Gane to tap out just 2:04 into the first round.

The victory solidified Jones’s legacy as one of the greatest fighters of all time and further established him as the undisputed MMA GOAT.

“I had this strong conviction that if I were to get him down to the ground, the fight would be in my area,” Jones said in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. “I feel stronger and more comfortable, especially on the ground, than ever.”

Jon “Bones” Jones – UFC Heavyweight Champion

With the win, Jones becomes the second fighter in UFC history to win titles in two different weight classes simultaneously, joining Conor McGregor in accomplishing that feat.

WHAT A NIGHT!! How about the performances from these three 🤯 #UFC285

B2YB @PrimeHydrate pic.twitter.com/hcK8T3OIXL

— UFC (@ufc) March 5, 2023

Jones was in good spirits during the post-fight interview, thanking God, his family, team, and fans. He also gave some insight into his strategy, saying he aimed to get Gane on the ground, and once he did, he felt comfortable.

“I’ve been wrestling since I was 12 years old, and I feel like I’m getting better every day,” Jones said. “Moving up to heavyweight is a whole new challenge, but I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

Jon “Bones” Jones – UFC Heavyweight Champion

Jones also called out former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, who was in attendance, saying,

“Y’all want to see me beat up Stipe?” before walking off with a goat-like “baa.”

Jon “Bones” Jones – UFC Heavyweight Champion

In the co-main event, Alex Grasso made history by becoming Mexico’s first-ever female UFC champion after submitting Valentina Shevchenko via fourth-round submission to win the Flyweight title.

Grasso, who was the underdog heading into the fight, showed impressive resilience and heart, surviving Shevchenko’s striking and eventually taking her down before securing the submission victory.

The event took place with limited live audience attendance due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but it still proved to be an exciting night for UFC fans as they witnessed Jon Jones’s triumphant return to the Octagon and the crowning of a new champion in Alex Grasso.

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