it’s been almost three years john jones Defeated Dominic Reyes by unanimous decision at UFC 247 in February 2020. On Saturday, UFC President Dana White announced that he was back.
Jones will fight Cyril Gane on March 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for the heavyweight title. The bout will headline UFC 285. Against Reyes, he defended his Light Heavyweight Championship and has since been pushing to take the heavyweight division in the mixed martial arts promotion.
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Jon Jones smiles after Jan Blakowicz defeats Corey Anderson by KO during the UFC Fight Night event at Santa Ana Star Center on February 15, 2020 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
(Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The announcement came after the company was unable to negotiate a new deal with defending champion Francis Ngannou. White said he offered Ngannou the richest deal for a heavyweight in UFC history to fight Jones but he turned it down. So White turned to Gane.
“I’ve told you guys this before — if you don’t want to be here, you don’t have to be here,” White said via ESPN. “I think Francis is at a place right now where he doesn’t want to take too many risks. He feels he’s in a good position where he can fight fewer opponents and make more money. We’re going to let him do it.” Have been.” That is, release him from his contract and give up our right to the match.”
White praised Jones highly.
Cyril Gane celebrates after defeating Tai Tuivasa during the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the Accor Arena on September 3, 2022 in Paris.
(Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty Images)
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White said, “Many people, including me, believe he is the best of all time.” “Jon Jones is ready, willing and able to fight anyone. He didn’t care who it was.”
Jones is 26-1 all time and Gaine is 11-1.
“When I started watching it, Jon Jones was one of my favorite fighters,” Gane told reporters at the UFC Vegas 67 post-event press conference, via MMA Fighting. “More so when I started MMA, because I’m a fan of every sport in MMA, and when you see a guy like Jon Jones who is well-rounded like that, you really appreciate it. He’s the GOAT. View your career.
“Today, I’m a young fighter, and I think fighting against a goat is every young fighter’s dream. It’s really crazy to me.”
Jon Jones stands in his corner prior to his Light Heavyweight Championship bout at the Toyota Center on February 8, 2020 in Houston, Texas.
(Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images))
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Jones and Gaine bout the first official match on ufc 285 card,
The Associated Press contributed to this report.