Back at the T-Mobile Arena, UFC 285 takes place this weekend for one of the biggest PPVS of the year. The GOAT, Jon Jones, comes back after over three years out of the Octagon to move up to heavyweight. In the main event, he takes on the slick striker Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight championship. In the co-main, ever-dominant Valentina Shevchenko attempts to defend her title against Mexican boxer Alexa Grasso. The card is stacked from head to toe with talent; see here for our UFC 285 predictions.
UFC 285 Predictions
Heavyweight title – Jones vs Gane
It’s been three years since the arguably greatest fighter to ever live Jon Jones stepped into the cage. Jones, 26-1, comes into the fight in a heavier division fighting one of the most nimble fighters it has ever seen. Admittedly, none of us really know how Jones will look and if the weight will have an effect on him. He will likely be slower, gas earlier, and be a bit more sluggish. That said, it was never these things that gave Jones his accolades. Jon’s smarts in the Octagon, and his fight IQ; are the things that carry him far.
Jones is coming off the back of two rather unconvincing decisions that have not aged well in the division. A successful and talented wrestler, three years out of the game is long for any fighter. It is not a ridiculous thing to say that nobody can really predict his performance. Especially considering his opponent.
Ciryl Gane, a Muay Thai champion before his MMA transition, is one of the best strikers heavyweight has ever seen. Gane is absolutely enormous. He is a natural heavyweight, not a blown-up light heavyweight like Jon Jones could be. Gane’s striking and ability to slide in and out of danger are some of the best we’ve seen in the division. His success is largely driven by this, and if Jones can stifle it with his wrestling, I believe he will have a path to victory. That is what I think happens.
Staff picking Jones: Billy Darlington, Chris Simpson, Robbie Miller, Kameron Cavanagh, Ella Earle
Staff picking Gane: Dan Evans
Flyweight title – Shevchenko vs Grasso
Valentina Shevchenko nearly lost it all against Thalia Santos, struggling against her grappling. With a hole in her game potentially opened up, it seemed to me that the next person to face her will capitalise. Unfortunately for Alexa Grasso, I cannot see that happening.
Alexa Grasso is by no means a bad fighter. Once she moved up to 125, she learned where she belonged. At 29 years old and on a four-fight win streak, she is in the prime of her carer. It’s just a shame the champ is Valentina Shevchenko.
Grasso’s boxing is her best factor, and Shevchenko trumps her on every front on the feet. On the off chance that she does struggle, Valentina has the groundwork to prevent Grasso’s threat and stay out of the red zone. Another defence for the champ.
Staff picking Shevchenko: Billy Darlington, Chris Simpson, Robbie Miller, Dan Evans, Ella Earle, Kameron Cavanagh
Staff picking Grasso:
Welterweight – Neal vs Rakhmonov
Shavkat Rakhmonov is the real deal. In the biggest test of his career so far he takes on heavy hitter Geoff Neal.
Rakhmonov is well-rounded and dangerous. He is a little unorthodox and being that light on your feet against Geoff Neal will help. Neal tends to be a little flat-footed with his striking. He is always a threat, always has his power and can crack anybody if he really gets them clean. It’s a question of whether he will be able to actually catch Shavkat.
One thing that concerns me is Neal missing weight. He missed it by 5 pounds too, that’s a lot. Not the weight of somebody who tried their hardest and missed by accident. He could have an injury going into this, or stomach issues. Either way, the signs point towards Shavkat for this fight.
Staff picking Neal:
Staff picking Rakhmonov: Billy Darlington, Chris Simpson, Robbie Miller, Dan Evans, Ella Earle, Kameron Cavanagh
Lightweight – Mateusz Gamrot vs Jalin Turner
Jalin Turner, is the underdog, despite five finishes in a row. That’s how good this fight is.
Gamrot will want to get back on the winning track after his loss to Beneil Dariush, which is no loss to be embarrassed about. Gamrot has never been finished and Turner has finished five people back to back. Unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, it all comes down to who can put pressure on the other. If it goes to the decision Gamrot takes it, but Turner getting a finish is not out of the question given his track record.
Both are tough and durable but I can see Turner pulling off the upset.
Staff picking Gamrot: Chris Simpson, Robbie Miller, Dan Evans, Ella Earle
Staff picking Turner: Billy Darlington, Kameron Cavanagh
Middleweight – Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett
Bo Nickal comes into this fight as one of the most decorated wrestlers in the sport. The hype train is seriously on for the 3-0 prospect. Jamie Pickett is experienced and will bring Nickal’s biggest challenge, but Bo has shown he is not a one-trick pony.
Despite that, we all know what Nickal will be trying to do. If Pickett can stuff those takedowns and keep Nickal away he may have a chance, but other than that it seems to me that Pickett is being fed to Nickal. His wrestling is just so good that he has already wrestled better athletes than Pickett.
I am absolutely not counting Pickett out and in this sport, anything can happen. Jamie Pickett has a chance if he can stay on his feet. The problem is that I cannot see him staying on his feet at all, and once it’s on the ground, Bo Nickal will have his way.
Staff picking Nickal: Billy Darlington, Chris Simpson, Robbie Miller, Dan Evans, Ella Earle, Kameron Cavanagh
Staff picking Pickett:
UFC 285 Predictions
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
