Jon Jones established his credentials as the GOAT with a rapid submission win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.
Jones, now a two-division champion, had been inactive for nearly two-and-a-half years in building his frame to fit the heavyweight division and restructuring his UFC contract. In the end, Jones’ return to the UFC resulted in perhaps the best performance of his entire career.
The fight was non-competitve, with the only offense Gane was able to muster was a low-kick that hit Jones in the groin. Once the action resumed, Jones pressured Gane relentlessly, and then scored a takedown that signaled the beginning of the end.
Jones pinned Gane down, a strategy he said he’d use earlier in the week, and Gane was unable to get back to his feet. Once Jones pinned him against the octagon, he locked him into a guillotine choke and submitted him at 2:04 in round 1.
With the win, Jones now looks forward to a long-awaited fight with Stipe Miocic, and a chance to further his incredible legacy.
Alexa Grasso stuns Valentina Shevchenko
In what will be the biggest upset of the year, Alexa Grasso did the unthinkable and ended Valentina Shevchenko’s flyweight title reign by submission.
Grasso fought a disciplined fight, maintaining her distance and getting back on her feet when Shevchenko would take her down. After starting strong, Grasso started losing ground to the champion. To Grasso’s credit, she stayed composed and picked her moments to engage.
When Shevchenko fired an errant spinning kick, Grasso took her down and locked in a rear-naked choke to win the flyweight title with just 26 seconds left in round 4.
UFC 285 full card results
Heavyweight: Jon Jones def. Ciryl Gane by submission (guillotine) at 2:04 of Round 1
Women’s flyweight: Alexa Grasso def. Valentina Shevchenko by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:34 of Round 4
Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Geoff Neal by submission (standing rear naked choke) at 4:17 of Round 3
Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot def. Jalin Turner by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Middleweight: Bo Nickal def. Jamie Pickett by submission (arm triangle) at 2:54 of Round 1
Bantamweight: Cody Garbrandt def. Trevin Jones by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Middleweight: Dricus Du Plessis def. Derek Brunson by TKO (punches) at 4:59 of Round 2
Women’s flyweight: Amanda Ribas def. Viviane Araujo by unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-27)
Middleweight: Marc-Andre Barriault def. Julian Marquez by TKO (punches) at 4:12 of Round 2
Welterweight: Ian Garry def. Song Kenan by TKO (punches) at 4:22 of Round 3:
Bantamweight: Cameron Saaiman def. Mana Martinez by majority decision (29-26, 28-27, 28-28)
Women’s strawweight: Tabatha Ricci def. Jessica Penne by submission (arm bar) art 2:14 of Round 2:
Bantamweight: Farid Basharat def. Da’Mon Blackshear by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Lightweight: Loik Radzhabov def. Esteban Ribovics by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
