UFC 285 Predictions: Jones vs Gane Odds & Picks (Mar 4)
- UFC 285 set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
- Jon Jones making heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane.
- Valentina Shevchenko looking to defend flyweight title for 8th time against Alexa Grasso.
If you’re in search of some UFC 285 predictions, look no further, because we have all you need to know on next weekend’s blockbuster pay-per-view at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Jump to:
- Heavyweight: Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane
- Women’s Flyweight: Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso
- Welterweight: Geoff Neal vs Shavkat Rakhmonov
- Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs Jalin Turner
- Middleweight: Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett
There are five fights scheduled for UFC 285’s main card with two title fights topping the card.
Women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will look to defend her title for the eighth straight time when she goes up against Mexico’s Alexa Grasso before Jon Jones makes his eagerly anticipated heavyweight debut against France’s Ciryl Gane. The winner of the main event will be crowned the division’s new champion following Francis Ngannou’s departure from the organization.
The other matchups include Geoff Neal taking on rising welterweight star Shavkat Rakhmonov, Poland’s Mateusz Gamrot trying to dent Jalin Turner’s incredible winning form, and wrestling star Bo Nickal making his UFC debut against Jamie Pickett.
So, without further ado, let’s get into it and give you all our UFC 285 predictions…
How to Watch
Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States
When: Saturday, March 4, 2023, at 5.30 p.m ET
Channel: UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+
UFC 285 Predictions
Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane
This matchup will see former light heavyweight champion Jones make his long-awaited debut at heavyweight and diving straight in at the deep end, the GOAT contender is taking on one of the division’s scariest and most technically gifted challengers – France’s Gane.
Considering no one has seen Jones compete at heavyweight before, this one is ridiculously tough to call.
We are expecting a bit of a chess match to take place, and Jones, being the vastly more experienced fighter, should be able to find his range from distance sooner than his European opponent and ultimately pick his way to a decision victory. Put it this way, we aren’t expecting fireworks.
Pick:
Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso
We’re not sure the opening odds reflect how this one may go down. Grasso is no joke and she is getting a title shot on merit.
The Mexican is undefeated in her last four fights and even though we’re backing Shevchenko to defend her strap for the eighth straight time, we expect UFC 285’s co-main event to be one of her toughest challenges yet.
Pick:
Geoff Neal vs Shavkat Rakhmonov
Geoff Neal vs Shavkat Rakhmonov has the potential to be the most entertaining fight on UFC 285’s entire card.
Both these welterweights have heavy hands – very heavy hands in fact, so don’t blink in this one.
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Unbeaten (16-0) Shavkat is many fans’ pick to become champion one day and it’s impossible to form a counter-argument. The Kazakhstan-born striker has a sensational record consisting of 16 finishes (8 KOs and 8 submissions).
Neal, although boasting plenty of finishes too, is certain to be in for his toughest fight yet and unfortunately for the 32-year-old, we expect his opponent to improve to 17-0, and probably book himself a shot at welterweight gold.
Pick:
Mateusz Gamrot vs Jalin Turner
We’re backing the underdog in this one.
Jalin Turner is on red-hot form having won all five of his last matchups, and although Poland’s Mateusz Gamrot is a very dangerous opponent because he lost his last fight against Beneil Darius, we feel like all the momentum is with California’s Turner.
Pick:
Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett
The biggest favorite on UFC 285’s main card is Pennsylvania-born and Dana White’s Contender Series sensation Bo Nickal.
Opening at an incredibly short price of -1800, Nickal, who will be making his UFC debut, is clearly the bookmakers’ pick to get his hand raised.
Although it tempting to back Jamie Pickett at his huge +750 dog’s price, it is hard to see how ‘The Nightwolf’ can win this one. He has lost his last two fights against Kyle Daukaus and Denis Tiuliulin and he just doesn’t have the ground game capable of competing with Nickal.
Pick:
