This weekend (Sat., March 4, 2023) at UFC 285, the vacant Heavyweight title is on the line inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headlining the event will be the returning former Light Heavyweight kingpin and all-time great, Jon Jones, who ends a three-year hiatus. Standing in “Bones’” way will be France’s finest, the former interim champion, Ciryl Gane, who enters his second undisputed title tilt. The co-main event of the evening also features one of the sport’s greatest to ever do it as the reigning Flyweight titleholder, Valentina Shevchenko, seeks a record-extending eighth consecutive title defense against Mexico’s Alexa Grasso.
Fighting for the flyweight throne!! @BulletValentina meets @AlexaGrasso in Saturday’s co-main!
[ #UFC285 | March 4th | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/twBcYMJ3ve ] pic.twitter.com/JH9PHyhknp
— UFC (@ufc) March 3, 2023
Also in attendance at today’s (Thurs., March 2, 2023) pre-fight press conference were Welterweight contenders, Shavkat Rakhmonov and Geoff Neal. Neal will look to halt the undefeated momentum of Rakhmonov (16-0) and extend his current streak to three in a row.
Expect a finish here!! @HandzOfSteelMMA meets @Rakhmonov1994 on our #UFC285 main card!
[ Saturday | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/twBcYMJ3ve ] pic.twitter.com/jPjlAd2vbO
— UFC (@ufc) March 3, 2023
Competing on the PPV main card before the last three bouts will be the Lightweights, as Mateusz Gamrot steps in on short notice, looking to rebound against the surging “Tarantula,” Jalin Turner. Gamrot is filling in for the injured Dan Hooker.
Top 10 lightweights turn up the heat @Gamer_MMA and @JalinTurner ready to clash Saturday night!
[ #UFC285 | March 4th | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/twBcYMJ3ve ] pic.twitter.com/qbo8x1ac2Y
— UFC (@ufc) March 3, 2023
To open the main card, undefeated super prospect, Bo Nickal, makes his promotional debut against Jamie Pickett.
The long-awaited debut is here!@NoBickal gets his first officially UFC action this Saturday against @JamiePickettMMA!
[ #UFC285 | March 4th | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/twBcYMJ3ve ] pic.twitter.com/THEp8d8QEb
— UFC (@ufc) March 3, 2023
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 285 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 285: “Jones vs. Gane” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.