LAS VEGAS – It’s time for the long-awaited return of Jon Jones.
After more than three years away from the octagon, the former light heavyweight champion will return on Saturday and take on Cyril Gein for the vacant UFC heavyweight title. The fight will headline UFC 285 at the T-Mobile Arena.
On Friday, the all-time great weighed in at 248 pounds, half a pound more than his rival Gein (247.5). Jones retired from the light heavyweight belt in August 2020 and began weight training, which included a 5,000 calorie a day diet and powerlifting. Jones (26-1, 1 NC) holds UFC records for longest unbeaten streak (18), title wins (14) and title defenses (11, tied with Demetrius Johnson). The New York native, who lives and trains in Albuquerque, New Mexico, last fought in February 2020, defeating Dominick Reyes in a 205-pound world title defense. Jones, 35, was also the youngest fighter to win a UFC title in 2011 (age 23). He is already regarded as the greatest fighter of all time, but could eliminate any controversy by winning the UFC Division 2 title.
Gein (11-1) knocked out Tai Tuivas in the third round in September. The French native has won eight out of nine UFC fights. Gein, 32, has suffered only one career loss in a unanimous decision against Francis Ngannou for the UFC Heavyweight Championship in January 2022 at UFC 270.
The co-main event will be a women’s flyweight title bout between champion Valentina Shevchenko and challenger Alexa Grasso. Shevchenko won 9 fights in a row. Her last bantamweight loss came in September 2017 to Amanda Nunes. Grasso won each of her first four flyweight fights. Her last loss was in 2019 against Carla Esparza.
Follow all the action with Brett Okamoto, Mark Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim or watch the fights on Sportzshala+ PPV.
Source: www.espn.com
