#JonJones Vs #Ciryl Gane Pre Fight Press Conference

#JonJones Vs #Ciryl Gane Pre Fight Press Conference

On Saturday night in Las Vegas, Jones will make his first UFC appearance in three years when he takes on Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title. This will be Jones' first fight at a new weight class and it could solidify him as one of MMA's all-time greats.

Jon Jones

Jon Jones makes his long-awaited UFC return as the consensus best MMA fighter of all time against Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 this Saturday night. The former light heavyweight champion has been bulking up in weight to take on France's former light heavyweight kingpin, who recently lost a decision to Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 last year.

On Thursday evening at UFC 285's pre-fight press conference, they came face-to-face for the first time and assessed each other before their main event confrontation. Much to the delight of a boisterous crowd in attendance at KA Theater at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada - they exchanged verbal jabs!

Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane may be the stars of UFC 285, but there are several other matchups on the card to keep an eye out for. In the co-main event, flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will attempt her eighth consecutive title defense against Mexican challenger Alexa Grasso in what promises to be an exciting contest.

There's also a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Shavkat Rakhmonov, as well as a lightweight clash between Jalin Turner and Mateusz Gamrot. Furthermore, top prospect Bo Nickal makes his UFC debut against Jamie Pickett in the opening bout of the card.

Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) has been studying Ciryl Gane for hours in preparation for their matchup at UFC 285 this weekend and believes he has identified areas to exploit in their matchup. As such, Jones said he feels confident going into their clash this weekend at UFC 285.

Fans can watch the entire pre-fight press conference for UFC 285 on MMA Junkie this Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, which will stream live for those unable to attend in person. All main card fights - including Jones-Gane headliner and Shevchenko-Grasso co-main - as well as several other key fighters on the card will be in attendance along with many others.

Ciryl Gane

After a three-year hiatus, UFC legend Jon Jones is set to make his return to the Octagon on Saturday night at UFC 285 at T-Mobile Arena. The 'Bones' will face off against former heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane in what promises to be one of the most thrilling fights in recent memory.

At this press conference, Jones and Gane will have the chance to get to know each other before their main event clash. UFC women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will join Jones, along with co-headliners Alexa Grasso and Dana White at the podium.

Since Jones' last title fight over a year ago, he will need to work on improving his takedown defense if he hopes to defeat Gane in this one. Francis Ngannou repeatedly took him down for five rounds before being stopped; although Jones may be better at grappling than that, he may need to learn how to guard against Gane's creative wrestling game.

Jones' college wrestling background has given him the versatility to employ multiple techniques and attack opponents from all sides. With an 84-inch reach and technical kickboxing skills, he can hunt down submissions or unleash devastating ground strikes with ease.

His footwork and movement are impressive for someone his size, yet his striking ability is still lacking. At present, he's averaging only 5.11 significant strikes per minute compared to his opponents' average of 2.25.

Due to this, he may not be the most technically adept fighter in his division, but his smooth technique and movement will allow him to remain at the top of the game.

If he can stay off the mat and defend against Jones, he has an excellent chance at retaining the heavyweight title. But if he gets taken down or caught inside by Jones, there will be major problems ahead.

Jones will be fighting in 205 pounds for the first time, and must adjust to the extra mass and space provided by a cage fight. To do this, Jones must adjust his style and techniques or risk getting pushed into it where he could potentially face off against a fence.

Valentina Shevchenko

Shevchenko has become one of the most dominant women's MMA fighters in recent history, winning six consecutive title defenses and becoming the UFC Flyweight champion in 2018. As a result, Shevchenko has become one of the sport's most dominant and successful athletes.

She's a legendary figure in the sport, and while she enjoys her time in the Octagon, she prefers to keep her personal life private. While she rarely posts about her love life or marriage on social media, she does keep her family updated with regards to her career progress.

Valentina Shevchenko (23-3-0) is a Kyrgyz native who has dedicated her life to martial arts competition and achievement. As three-time Muay Thai world champion and multiple other victories throughout her career, Shevchenko has achieved great success in various competitions.

Shevchenko has amassed an impressive 23-3-0 record since joining the UFC, only losing to two female MMA fighters: Amanda Nunes in March 2016 and Joanna Jedrzejczyk two years later in 2018.

Kyrgyz-born fighter boasts an impressive ground game and can consistently bring her opponents to the mat. Additionally, she boasts an impressive accuracy rating - 56.4 percent of significant strike attempts are connected, which is significantly better than other flyweight title contenders' average rate of connection.

Shevchenko's best performance came against Priscila Cachoeira, where she landed 95 significant strikes and connected on 84 of them - both records for a women's flyweight fight. Additionally, Shevchenko controlled most of the first round, spending much of it on the ground and pummeling Cachoeira to the mat with vicious ground and pound.

Shevchenko is one of the most accurate female fighters in the sport, averaging 4.02 significant strikes per minute - more than double what Grasso absorbs! This makes Shevchenko one of the top contenders for her division.

Shevchenko has been a dominant force in the UFC, and an integral player in developing women's flyweight division. Her impressive record indicates she will remain one of the sport's top contenders going forward.

Alistair Overeem

Alistair Overeem has been one of the most captivating heavyweights to watch in MMA for years. He boasts an impressive record in early rounds of fights, as well as his immense power and finish ability. Additionally, he's an adept grappler with a dangerous Guillotine choke technique.

Overeem is a former Strikeforce heavyweight champion and holds numerous other titles such as Strikeforce, DREAM and GLORY kickboxing champion. He's battled some of mixed martial arts' top names, with plans to return in March for UFC 285 with a title shot against Ciryl Gane.

Overeem has been a part of some of mixed martial arts' biggest events and always had the capacity to make an impression. His record boasts 35 wins and 29 losses, with no defeats at UFC events.

The Dutchman is known for his powerful knockout punches that land hard and fast. His skill at moving in on opponents and striking first often results in him taking control of early rounds of a fight.

In addition to his explosive power, Overeem has a 6'5' frame and world-class technical striking ability. This makes him an intimidating opponent during the early stages of a fight.

His debut fight in the UFC was against Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 in 2011. He won by submission at 1:26 of the first round with a kick to the liver.

Since then, Overeem has competed in multiple promotions and won four of his five bouts. He has established himself as a formidable contender within the heavyweight division, rising as high as number three on the rankings.

He is an accomplished athlete, having recently joined Kings MMA in Huntington Beach, California. He trains alongside some of MMA's premier names such as Anderson Silva, Mauricio Rua and Wanderlei Silva.

The Dutchman was previously a Strikeforce heavyweight champion and participated in the Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament at Strikeforce, where he defeated Fabricio Werdum in the quarterfinals. Following that, he faced Antonio Silva in a semi-final match before falling short to Daniel Cormier at the 2011 Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix final.