Jon Jones is not impressed with Ciryl Gane’s body of work. The former light heavyweight champion faces off against the former interim heavyweight champion this weekend in the main event of UFC 285, and Jones doesn’t seem the least bit concerned.
At the media presser, Jones poured water on Gane’s praises. The Frenchman has been called one of the most versatile heavyweights ever, but Jones doesn’t see it that way.
“I feel like Ciryl is the most incomplete fighter in the top five right now. He has really good striking and he has really good footwork, but he got tired in his last fight against Francis Ngannou. All that fancy footwork, you know, him supposed to be the fastest heavyweight that we’ve ever seen…all that went away.”
Gane dropped a decision Ngannou after falling victim to multiple takedown attempts. Ngannou, not normally known for his grappling skills, also fought with a torn ACL and MCL, further limiting his mobility.
Though Jones won’t possess the physical size and striking power that Ngannou did, he does believe he has all the tools to become a two-division champion.
Jones hints at game plan to neutralize Gane
This will be Jones’ first fight in over two years. Even then, he was lucky to come out with wins over Dominick Reyes and Thiago Santos before then. Jones made it a point to call Santos the most technical kickboxer he’s ever faced–another slight to his UFC 285 opponent. Fighters normally don’t get better or stronger with this much inactivity. A confident Jones said that his wrestling will be the difference maker.
“I’m a wrestler and I wrestle people a lot. It’s a different kind of endurance. Francis outworked Ciryl Gane. Cyril Gane’s coach said it himself…I saw no offense on the ground.”
It’s clear that Jones plans to follow Ngannou’s lead. He’ll use his wrestling background to gas Gane out, being careful to avoid Gane’s ankle locks and reverse them if necessary. It will be a big ask. Gane should be well aware of Jones’ grappling prowess.
Time will tell, and we won’t have to wait much longer as Jones vs. Gane goes down this weekend at UFC 285.
