After a three-year hiatus, an MMA legend returns to the Octagon on Saturday when Jon “Bones” Jones (26-1) makes his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.
The fight is for the vacant heavyweight title and will be Jones’ first since February 2020, when he last defended the light heavyweight title he held for so long.
His opponent is a worthy one.
Gane (11-1) is the former interim heavyweight champion, earning that title with a win over Derrick Lewis in August 2021. He failed to gain undisputed status a few months later after losing by decision to Francis Ngannou, who just vacated the heavyweight belt in January. Now, Gane is back to claim it after winning his last fight in September. But he can he take down the GOAT?
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Jones is favored to win with -170 odds at DraftKings, and the only real question is whether his age and the move to heavyweight impacts how we know he can performance.
Jones, 35, weighed in at 248 pounds, which is 43 pounds heavier than his old fighting weight and a half-pound more than the 32-year-old Gane.
To me, that sounds more dangerous for Jones’ opponent than anybody. My suggestion for bettors is to not overthink this one — Jones is known as the best for a reason.
I’m rolling with Bones to not only win in his return, but I’ll take the +200 odds on a decision, which is how he’s won seven of his last nine fights, including the last three.
