Reminder: We will deliver live round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of UFC 285’s entire five-fight pay-per-view (PPV) main card RIGHT HERE, beginning at 10 p.m. ET.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, TONIGHT (Sat., March 4, 2023) with a five-round pay-per-view (PPV) main event between former Light Heavyweight deity, Jon Jones — who returns from a three-year hiatus — and ex-interim Heavyweight champion, Ciryl Gane, for Francis Ngannou’s vacated (and undisputed) belt. In UFC 285’s PPV co-main event, Flyweight queenpin, Valentina Shevchenko — the promotion’s longest reigning champion — defends her 125-pound title against Mexico’s Alexa Grasso. We’ve got Shavkat Rakhmonov, Mateusz Gamrot and Bo Nickal, too!
UFC’s greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.) is back in action!
Before that action begins at 10 p.m. ET later this evening, though, MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 285 “Prelims” undercard below, beginning with the first fight at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (then the remaining undercard on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET). We will then cover UFC 285’s PPV main card in a separate thread right here, beginning at 10 p.m. ET.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Jones vs. Gane.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 285 “Prelims” undercard results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 285 PPV QUICK RESULTS:
265 lbs.: Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane for vacant heavyweight title
125 lbs.: UFC Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso
170 lbs.: Geoff Neal vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
155 lbs.: Jalin Turner vs. Mateusz Gamrot
185 lbs.: Bo Nickal vs. Jamie Pickett
UFC 285 ESPN+ ‘PRELIMS’ QUICK RESULTS:
135 lbs.: Cody Garbrandt vs. Trevin Jones — Garbrandt def. Jones by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
185 lbs.: Derek Brunson vs. Dricus Du Plessis — Du Plessis def. Brunson by TKO (corner stoppage) at 4:59 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
125 lbs.: Viviane Araujo vs. Amanda Ribas — Ribas def. Araujo by unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-27)
185 lbs.: Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Julian Marquez — Barriault def. Marquez by TKO (punches) at 4:12 of Round Two
170 lbs.: Ian Garry vs. Song Kenan — Garry def. Song by TKO (punches) at 4:22 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS
135 lbs.: Mana Martinez vs. Cameron Saaiman — Saaiman def. Martinez by majority decision (29-26, 28-27, 28-28)
115 lbs.: Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci — Ricci def. Penne by submission (armbar) at 2:14 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS
135 lbs.: Farid Basharat vs. Da’Mon Blackshear — Basharat def. Blackshear by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
155 lbs.: Loik Radzhabov vs. Esteban Ribovics — Radzhabov def. Ribovics by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
UFC 285 ‘PRELIMS’ PLAY-BY-PLAY RESULTS:
135 lbs.: Cody Garbrandt vs. Trevin Jones
Round one: Garbrandt opens with body kicks. Low sweep kick. Jones falls short with a 1-1-2. Both feinting a lot, staying out of range. Another Garbrandt body kick. One minute in. Long lull, then another body kick. Jones tries one of his own. Two minutes in. Counter right from Garbrandt to answer a body kick. Fast lead right. 1-2. He does a little foot shuffle to taunt, so he’d better hope he doesn’t get clipped and condemned to every MMA blooper reel. Two minutes to go.
Jones tries a head kick, eats a leg kick. Garbrandt body kick with a minute to go. Lead right to the body. Jones tries to take the center and turn up the volume a bit. He nearly catches Garbrandt with a head kick, eats another body kick. More fancy footwork from Garbrandt. 10-9 Garbrandt.
Round two: Garbrandt times a Jones low kick to take him down into side control. Jones quickly works his way back to his feet and separates. One minute in. Another lull in the action that Jones ends with an inside low kick. Body kick. High-amplitude double-leg from Garbrandt, who has to fight out of a tight guillotine to settle in guard two minutes in. Not a ton of action from Garbrandt on top.
Jones looks to scramble up and Garbrandt slips in his hooks. He loses one and settles for a knee on the break. One minute to go. Jones changes levels against the fence. Garbrandt reverses with double underhooks, gets reversed in turn. 10-9 Garbrandt.
Round three: Jones advancing, Garbrandt circling just out of range. Jones head kick goes high. Another long lull highlighted by some more shuffling by Garbrandt. Garbrandt fires a kick, changes levels, nothing there. Two minutes in. Jones presses forward with a two-piece that misses wide. Neither man doing much; Jones is trying more, but not connecting. Two minutes to go.
Both swing looping overhands, neither connects. There’s a couple good punches from Jones, who puts Garbrandt on the fence. Separation. Jones now pushing ford, lands a hard 3-2 before Garbrandt ties him up. One minute to go. Outside trip puts Jones on top in half guard. Diving right hand lands for him. Garbrandt holds on until the bell. 10-9 Jones.
Final result: Garbrandt def. Jones by unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Derek Brunson vs. Dricus Du Plessis
Round one: Both tossing out kicks in the early going. Brunson catches a body kick and muscles Du Plessis down into side control. One minute in. Brunson trying to attack the far arm. Du Plessis regains half guard. Punching off his back as Brunson uses heavy shoulder pressure. Du Plessis works his way up and Brunson jumps on a guillotine, only to lose it and end up on the bottom two minutes in. Elbows from Du Plessis. Nice diving right. Brunson looks for a kneebar and Du Plessis answers with a toe hold attempt. They battle in 50/50 for a bit until Du Plessis abandons it and Brunson looks for the back with two minutes to go.
Du Plessis tries to shake Brunson off the top, but Brunson uses a strong grip to win the scramble. Du Plessis makes it to his feet and Brunson starts teeing off. Huge lefts from Brunson with a minute to go. Du Plessis backs up under fire and tries to shoot, but gives up mount and then the back. Brunson can’t find the RNC, instead settles for half guard. Du Plessis stands and cracks Brunson with an elbow. 10-9 Brunson.
Round two: Both swinging hard to start the round. Body kicks from Brunson. He rushes in, eats counters. Du Plessis tries to lunge after him with punches. One minute in. Brunson flicks out body kicks and tries to rush. Hard left hook by Du Plessis and a body kick behind it. Big overhand left stings Brunson, then a low kick and left hook. Du Plessis starting to land and they’re trading heat. Two minutes in. Clubbing left by Du Plessis, then a right hook behind it. Counter right to low kick. Brunson shoots, denied. Du Plessis slowly advancing, avoids a big left. 1-2 with two minutes to go.
Brunson looking up at the clock. He tries to rush, eats a low kick and walks into a four-piece combo. Nice body shot by Du Plessis. Du Plessis rushes, gets caught by a left, lands his own counters when Brunson rushes. Du Plessis shoots, can’t establish, blasts Brunson with a two-piece. One minute to go. Du Plessis on the attack as they wing ugly hooks at each other. Big two-piece. Hard right hands piling up and down goes Brunson. Du Plessis follows him into guard and drops punches and elbows. Brunson appears to give up in the final seconds, allowing Du Plessis to crack him with two clean shots. In comes the towel from Brunson’s corner and this one’s over.
Final result: Du Plessis def. Brunson by TKO (corner stoppage)
125 lbs.: Viviane Araujo vs. Amanda Ribas
Round one: They trade low kicks early. Quick rights from Ribas. Left hook and lead right land for Araujo. Ribas ties up and Araujo jumps guard on a guillotine, but can’t complete it. One minute in. Solid punches from Ribas on top. Half guard now. Stalemate two minutes in. Araujo looks for deep half guard, eating punches. Two minutes to go.
Araujo slips out and returns to the feet. Both land well. Good combinations on both sides. Ribas tries a spinning back kick, lands a two-piece. Big straight right from Araujo rattles Ribas. Another good one met by a right hand. One minute to go. They trade power hands. Right hand by Ribas catches Araujo backing up. Nice exchanges. Good shot by Araujo before the bell. 10-9 Ribas, but you could give it to Araujo on late work.
Round two: Ribas catches Araujo in with a counter right and swarms, ultimately ending up on top in half guard. Ground-and-pound from Ribas. One minute in. Ribas still chipping away. Two minutes in. More punches and short elbows. Looking for an arm triangle, no dice. Two minutes to go.
Ribas slowly working to mount, landing all the while. Araujo gets to her knees and Ribas jumps on her back. One minute to go. Another attempt at the back take and she gets this one. One hook in. 10-8 Ribas.
Round three: Araujo slowly advancing. Lead right. Counter left by Ribas, who looks fresher. Hard body shot. Left hook to low kick a minute in. Ribas putting together combos, eats a body shot. Right hook by Araujo. Low kick exchange. Spinning back kick to flying knee from Ribas. Solid right hands. Stiff jab. Two minutes in. Both land hard straight rights. Counter right by Araujo. Ribas low kick, jab, spinning back kick, jab. Head kick to right hand. Two minutes to go.
Ribas tries another spinning back kick. They trade, Ribas still getting the better of it. Both land lefts. Ribas ties up for a takedown and Aaraujo looks for an armbar. Ribas gets her arm free and works with ground-and-pound until the bell. 10-9 Ribas.
Final result: Ribas def. Araujo by unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Julian Marquez
Round one: Solid low kick from Marquez is the first meaningful strike of the fight. Short combo lands for him in the center. One minute in. 1-2-3 by Barriault. Marquez lands an overhand right in close. Firing combos, landing in places two minutes in. He’s definitely busier than Barriault so far. Solid overhand rights met by an uppercut. 1-1-2. Barriault comes back with a teep, eats some jabs and a series of swatting right hands inside with two minutes to go.
Nice jabs by Barriault, then a hard check hook. His best work in a while. Marquez continuing to wade in and throw volume. One minute to go. Counter two-piece by Barriault, brief clinch. Hard left hook and straight right from Marquez, who disengages from the clinch. Swatting hook inside. Barriault catches him with a chopping right. 10-9 Marquez.
Round two: Early right cross lands for Barriault. Both wearing some facial damage. Barriault wades into the clinch and they trade elbows, Marquez getting the better of it. One minute in. Some nice exchanges; Barriault seems to have woken up some. Solid combo and they slug it out in the clinch. Big shots from both. Marquez low kicks. Marquez shoots, denied, elbow exchange two minutes in. Barriault dings him with a 2-1 into the clinch. Big elbows by both men. Barriault starting to pour it on. Mauling in the clinch. Barriault just tearing into him at point-blank. Two minutes to go.
Marquez comes back with a big knee. Barriault still wading in, rips the body. Big storm of elbows against the fence. Elbows, knees, uppercuts. Barriault just continues to punch until the ref intervenes.
Final result: Barriault def. Marquez by TKO (punches)
170 lbs.: Ian Garry vs. Song Kenan
Round one: Trading low kicks in the early going. Garry tries a 1-2. One minute in. Another 1-2 whiffs. Low kick exchange. Nobody committing to anything big, standing just at the end of each other’s ranges. Garry’s calf kicks appear to be doing damage. Jab to head kick attempt two minutes in. Garry staying active with the jab, catches him coming in with a teep. Another good calf kick visibly bothers Song, who eats a couple of body shots afterwards. Two minutes to go.
Garry misses wide with a flying knee. Body jab met by a Song low kick. More kicks from Garry. He steps in with a liver shot, only for Song to smash him with a vicious left hook. Song swarming, looking for the finish with a minute to go. Landing punches from the body lock. Foot stomps, knee upstairs. Garry separates and tries to run after him. 10-9 Song.
Round two: Garry seems to have recovered, and he’s right back to potshotting. Low kick catches Song in the cup a minute in. Trading kicks at mid range. Solid oblique kicks by Garry. Quick jabs two minutes in. Long body shot falls short, teep does not, and Garry follows with a solid combo against the fence. Continuing to attack the lead leg. Two minutes to go.
Song had a few bursts of urgency this round, but we’re back to Garry comprehensively picking him apart at a distance. Oblique kick exchange. One minute to go. More jabs from Garry, good oblique kick. Lead knee attempt, continuing to potshot. Song tries a spinning back kick in a rare moment of activity. 10-9 Garry.
Round three: Garry looking more aggressive to start, puts together a nice combination. Song lands a glancing left hook as he rushes in. One minute in. More sharp jabs from Garry. Continuing to land with impunity. Two minutes in. Nice hand trap to jab. Song showing very little urgency, manages to land a right hand after avoiding a sequence on the fence. Garry rips the body and follows up with two upstairs. Two minutes to go.
Oblique kicks from Garry. Body shot, clean jabs, body shots. He avoids a left hook and comes back with a hard combination. One minute to go. Hard left hook hurts Song and Garry swarms, unloading until Song crumples.
Final result: Garry def. Song by TKO (punches)
135 lbs.: Mana Martinez vs. Cameron Saaiman
Round one: Early left hook from Martinez. He catches a low kick, can’t use it. Counter left. Saaiman switching stance, lands a straight right, just misses a head kick a minute in. Flurry from Martinez met by a two-piece. Saaiman looking to press forward, both swing hooks that just miss. Jab and 1-2 from Saaiman two minutes in. Low kicks. Saaiman steps in and, for the third time this round, stumbles awkwardly. There’s a body kick from him. Spinning back kick misses, low kick lands right to the nuts. Solid body kicks from Saaiman when they resume and Martinez comes out slugging. Two minutes to go.
Another inside low kick catches Martinez in the jewels, and this time Herb Dean takes a point. They get right to trading hands on the restart. Saaiman whiffs on a spinning back fist, eats a glancing hook. One minute to go. Low kicks from Saaiman. Martinez loads up on a big uppercut, lands a left hook behind it. Good left hook as Saaiman changes levels. Saaiman comes back with a body kick and cracks Martinez with a straight left behind it. 9-9.
Round two: Body kicks from Saaiman to start. Martinez lands one of his own as he pushes forward, then eats low kicks. Body shots a minute in. Saaiman fires three roundhouses and tries a wheel kick behind them. Good punching exchange. Saaiman leg kick, then a heavy overhand left and straight as they exchange. Martinez comes back with a counter uppercut. Two minutes in. Brief lull in the action as they size each other up. Leg kick and straight right from Saaiman, then a piston jab that crumples Martinez out of nowhere. Saaiman follows him down into guard with two minutes to go.
Saaiman postures and drops a good hammerfist. Solid elbows. One minute to go. More elbows, snuffs out an armbar attempt. Diving right hand. Martinez tries to roll, surrenders half guard. Big elbows by Saaiman. He stands over Martinez until the bell. 10-9 Saaiman.
Round three: Saaiman opens with a body kick and follows with two left hands. Falling short with kicks. Body kick lands, head kick falls short a minute in. Hard low kick and 1-2 met by counters. Saaiman cracks him with a pair of good right hands and looks to press the advantage, only to stick his fingers out and catch Martinez right in the eye. Martinez takes a while to recover, but Dean elects not to take a point. Right back to trading two minutes in. Kicks piling up for Saaiman. Head kick and wheel kick fall short. Nice counter left by Martinez, avoids another wheel kick and briefly tosses him down. Saaiman goes for a single-leg and absorbs a hard right hand before taking Martinez down into half guard. Two minutes to go.
Martinez regains guard. Hard elbows from Saaiman. He’s split Martinez open with a minute to go. Solid punches and hammerfists. Martinez gets a bit of space and stands, eating punches as he does. Saaiman slips throwing a late head kick. Borderline 10-8, but 10-9 Saaiman.
Final result: Saaiman def. Martinez by majority decision
115 lbs.: Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci
Round one: Ricci tries a quick flurry, then takes her down into guard. She stands over her and kicks at her legs. Penne trying to lash out with upkicks, then sits up into a takedown attempt before standing. One minute in. Low kick from Ricci, low-high combo behind it. 1-2. Penne lands a 1-2, denies the initial takedown, gets caught by an outside trip into guard. She brings her legs up and Ricci goes back to standing and kicking at her legs. Front headlock position as Penne hunts a takedown. Back to their feet, Ricci pressing her against the side of the fence. Clinch takedown into guard again. Penne nearly sweeps her. Two minutes to go.
Ricci postures out of an arm attack, drops a good punch, and goes back to kicking her legs. Half guard, dropping elbows. Penne regains guard. Short punches from Ricci with a minute to go. Penne threatens a leg, so Ricci goes back to kicking her legs. Ricci punches her way back into the clinch before the bell. 10-9 Ricci.
Round two: Ricci circling as they trade punches. Penne cut beside her left eye, doesn’t seem bad. Penne lands a knee, eats a right hand. Ricci low kick met by a straight right. Penne changes levels and gets hip tossed to the mat. Solid hammerfists from Ricci a minute in. Kicking the legs again. Penne tries to invert when Ricci attempts to pass, then back to the kicking. Penne goes for a sweep, but Ricci somehow turns it into an ultra-slick armbar that draws a quick tap.
Final result: Ricci def. Penne by submission (armbar)
135 lbs.: Farid Basharat vs. Da’Mon Blackshear
Round one: Blackshear does his best Fabricio Werdum impression with a flying side kick to start, though he can’t match “Vai Cavalo’s” accuracy. Both men landing well in the early going, light on their feet. One minute in. Blackshear tries a flying knee, eats a low kick. Quick counter right from Basharat. Blackshear goes for a single-leg, settles for hauling Basharat to the fence. Basharat slips out and picks some shots. Quick jab two minutes in. Basharat jab, Blackshear right cross. Nice exchange. Basharat looks for his own single-leg and runs the pipe to land in half guard. Two minutes to go.
Butterfly guard now. Blackshear tries to elevate, can’t dislodge him. Deep half guard attempt, no dice. Basharat hops over to take side control. Blackshear spins and returns to his feet with a minute to go. Head kick attempt. Both coming close with sharp shots, neither landing clean. Basharat tries a spinning back fist, blocks a jumping switch kick. 10-9 Basharat.
Round two: Blackshear breaks the striking stalemate with a takedown. Can’t keep Basharat down or stuck against the fence. One minute in. Spinning back kick from Basharat, blocks a head kick in return, tries his own. Blackshear tries a flying knee and turns it into a body lock two minutes in. Trying to secure the back, potential twister setup. Blackshear has him stuck between mount and the back with the threat of an arm triangle. Solid elbows and hammerfists. Two minutes to go.
Basharat kicks him away and limp-legs out of the re-shot before hitting an easy double-leg into side control. Blackshear regains guard. One minute to go. Short elbows by Basharat, sneaky left hand. More elbows. He tries a final flurry before the bell. 10-9 Basharat, though closer than the first.
Round three: Blackshear pressuring forward with some solid shots. Right hands landing. He shoots, denied. They trade in the phone booth. Blackshear gets the clinch and lands a couple knees before stuffing a takedown. Good knees from double unders. Basharat takes him to the fence. Solid trip, avoiding a good effort from Blackshear to counter it. On top against the base of the fence. Sorry for the lack of timestamps, but the clock vanished a while ago. Half guard for Basharat. Blackshear regains guard, nice work to sweep with butterfly hooks. Back to the feet. Less than two to go apparently.
1-2 from Basharat met by quick shots from Blackshear. Hard counter hook by Blackshear, eats a counter right. Trading jabs. Low kick knocks Basharat over and Blackshear shoots unsuccessfully. Awkward collision in the clinch puts Basharat back on top with a minute to go. Solid elbows. In the waning seconds, Blackshear locks up a triangle, but he can’t finish before the bell. 10-9 Blackshear.
Final result: Basharat def. Blackshear by unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Loik Radzhabov vs. Esteban Ribovics
Round one: Radzhabov cracks Ribovics with his first overhand right of the fight and drags him down with an outside trip. Ribovics using the fence to stand, avoids a potential guillotine. They get right to slugging and Radzhabov can’t miss with the overhand right. He drags Ribovics back down again a minute in. Ribovics looking for his usual kimura. Nice spin into an armbar, can’t get it but uses it to stand. Solid low kick two minutes in. Sharp straight lefts getting through. Radzhabov hits a long-distance double-leg against the fence. Two minutes to go.
Short lefts from Radzhabov, then an arm triangle attempt. Half guard after losing it. Looking for the back with a minute to go. Ribovics gets to his feet and grabs the kimura again, only to get slammed for his trouble. Nice scramble to get back to his feet and they separate. Hard lead right by Radzhabov, straight left by Ribovics in return. They trade rights at the bell. 10-9 Radzhabov.
Round two: Heavy combo from Ribovics stings Radzhabov in the opening seconds, but Radzhabov reacts with a strong takedown. Good outside trip to get back on top in half guard when Ribovics stands. Radzhabov looking for the arm triangle on the far side a minute in. Ribovics spins to his knees and stands. Radzhabov shoots again, denied. Trading combinations. Radzhabov backs him up with right hands before changing levels for another double-leg. Two minutes in. Ribovics works to his feet once again. Solid right hand inside, straight left soon after. He sprawls on the next double-leg, but Radzhabov drives through for another takedown with two minutes to go.
Ribovics returns to his feet, avoids a couple of mat returns, and considers his own trip before separating. Both firing potshots with a minute to go. Ribovics steps in with some body shots, then rips a lengthy combo high and low to rock Radzhabov against the fence. Radzhabov manages to wrestle and survive the onslaught, then lands a spinning back kick in the final seconds. I guess 10-9 RIbovics on Radzhabov’s lack of damage.
Round three: Ribovics commits to early volume, but walks into a brutal overhand right. Radzhabov on the attack and landing heat. Ribovics right in there with him, trading power shots. Things simmer back down and they take the center, trading potshots. One minute in. Low kick and jab from Ribovics. Strong double-leg puts Radzhabov back on top in guard. Ribovics latches onto the kimura again and initiates a scramble two minutes in. Looking for the back, got it, full mount. Radzhabov bridges his way out and hits another double-leg with two minutes to go.
Another lift and takedown when Ribovics returns to his feet. Side control for Radzhabov. Ribovics works his way to his feet, avoids a slam, and gets some separation. Trading hands with a minute to go and Ribovics hurts Radzhabov once again with a tight left hook. Radzhabov shoots, denied, looks like he’s out of steam. Both throwing heavy shots until Radzhabov shoots again. Great fight. 10-9 Ribovics.
Final result: Radzhabov def. Ribovics by unanimous decision
Remember: MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of UFC 285’s entire five-fight PPV main card RIGHT HERE, beginning at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
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