by One of the most anticipated heavyweight title fights in recent memory awaits Saturday at UFC 285’s main event when former light heavyweight king Jon Jones makes his comeback by taking on high-ranking contender Ciryl Gane for the vacant title. Their five-round encounter anchors the main fight pay-per-view card of UFC 285 (10:00 p.m. ET) from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Jones left the sport three years ago and gave no timeline for his return. He vacated the light heavyweight belt he held for nearly a decade and hinted at a move to heavyweight. That time has finally come and his first matchup is for the championship recently vacated by Francis Ngannou. Gane will get his second chance at the undisputed title after falling short against Ngannou last year.
Jones is a -170 favorite (risking $170 to win $100), while Gane comes back at +145 in the latest Caesars Sportsbook MMA odds for UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane. The co-main event also features a title fight when World Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko (-600) meets up-and-coming challenger Alexa Grasso (+450). Before you complete a UFC 285 selection, be sure to check out SportsLine expert Kyle Marley’s MMA predictions and betting tips.
Marley won the first-ever UFC betting competition “ToutMaster” sponsored by MMAOddsBreaker and is a regular performer on several MMA betting and daily fantasy shows. He watches every single fight for every professional MMA card and does extensive research before each event.
In the past four years, $100 bettors who have followed Marley’s tips have gained almost $12,000. In 2022, the accomplished MMA analyst kickstarted the UFC season by advising SportsLine members to back Calvin Kattar (+200) against Giga Chikadze (-240) in the featherweight main event. Kattar’s lopsided decision win gave Marley’s supporters another easy winner. Everyone who has followed it has seen massive returns.
Now that UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane is in sight, Marley has studied the card from top to bottom and revealed his top picks and best bets. You can only see Marley’s MMA picks at SportsLine.
UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane Preview
Last we saw Jones in the Octagon he squeaked out a close decision against then-rising contender Dominick Reyes. Jones looked floored and a little disinterested as Reyes dominated the first two laps with his pace and high power. Jones has been strong in the final rounds, but many MMA watchers remain adamant that Reyes should have gotten the nod and ended Jones’ decade of division dominance.
Instead, Jones (26-1-1) raised his hand and exited what would have been a lucrative and anticipated rematch with Reyes. He eventually left the belt and expressed a desire to return as a heavyweight, and the UFC eyed a possible mega-fight that would see Jones take on Ngannou. That matchup never materialized, and Ngannou has since left the promotion.
Just as Jones, 35, was beginning to drift towards contemplation, UFC President Dana White announced the former champion had expressed his desire to return and he was booked against Gane for the vacant heavyweight crown.
Gane (10-1) quickly emerged as the frontrunner of a youth heavyweight movement as the UFC scouted for talent to make up for the retirement of former champion Daniel Cormier and the inactivity of once-dominant champion Stipe Miocic.
Signed to the UFC after just three pro fights, Gane quickly climbed the ranks thanks to an uncanny combination of size, agility and versatility. The 32-year-old French fighter has won 8-1 in nine UFC games, with the only loss coming in a decision against Ngannou last year. See all of Marley’s tips here.
The best UFC 285 expert tips
One of Marley’s best UFC 285 picks: He goes up against Marc-Andre Barriault (-145) to pass Julian Marquez (+125) in a middleweight prospects matchup on the preliminary card.
Barriault (14-6) is a power puncher who joined the UFC after winning the middleweight and light heavyweight championships with the TKO promotion. But the Canadian slugger struggled to gain a foothold in the UFC, going 3-5 with a no-contest in nine appearances.
Marquez (9-3) is also a straight hitter, having six knockouts in his nine pro wins. The Missouri native saw his last game last June end in an injury loss to veteran Gregory Rodrigues.
“Marquez is the more dangerous finisher but I want Barriault to win more rounds. He should be the higher volume forward and I’m also giving him the wrestling advantage,” Marley told SportsLine. See who else you can pick here.
How to make UFC 285 picks
Marley has strong picks for Jones vs. Gane and every other fight on the UFC 285 card. He’s also backing a fighter who “will have the overall advantage” to come out with a big win. Marley’s expert tips and analysis are only available at SportsLine.
Who Will Win UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane? And how exactly does each fight end? Visit SportsLine now for in-depth tips on every fight at UFC 285, all from the peerless expert who has won almost $12,000 in MMA over the past four years, and find out.
UFC 285 odds fight card
Check out full UFC 285 tips, predictions and best bets here.
Jon Jones (-170) vs Ciryl Gane (+145)
Valentina Shevchenko (-600) vs. Alexa Grasso (+450)
Shavkat Rakhmonov (-500) vs Geoff Neal (+380)
Mateusz Gamrot (-210) vs. Jalin Turner (+175)
Bo Nickal (-1,700) vs. Jamie Pickett (+950)
Dricus Du Plessis (-240) vs. Derek Brunson (+200)
Amanda Ribas (-120) vs. Viviane Araujo (+100)
Marc-Andre Barriault (-145) vs. Julian Marquez (+125)
Cameron Saaiman (-275) vs. Mana Martinez (+225)
Tabatha Ricci (-265) vs. Jessica Penne (+225)
Farid Basharat (-480) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (+360)
Cody Garbrandt (-165) vs. Trevin Jones (+145)
Ian Garry (-550) vs. Kenan Song (+400)
