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After years of discuss and practically a decade of hypothesis, Jon Jones’ heavyweight debut is lastly set. Jones will face former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight championship in the primary occasion of UFC 285 on March 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. UFC president Dana White confirmed the battle after pictures of an commercial for the battle on digital billboards exterior of T-Mobile Arena started circulating on Twitter.
In a corresponding transfer, Francis Ngannou has been eliminated as heavyweight champion and launched from his contract. Ngannou is now a free agent and free to signal with any group he desires, White stated on Saturday.
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Jones has not fought since Feb. 8, 2020. In his most up-to-date outing, Jones gained a controversial choice over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. The win over Reyes was Jones’ second consecutive controversial choice victory, following a break up choice win over Thiago Santos. It was additionally the third profitable title protection of Jones’ second stint as UFC mild heavyweight champion.
Jones solely has misplaced as soon as in his profession, a disqualification to Matt Hamill in simply his tenth professional battle. Every different blemish on Jones’ profession has been self inflicted. From a no-contest in opposition to Daniel Cormier on account of a failed drug check, which additionally resulted in Jones being stripped of the title in 2017, to different failed drug checks and authorized bother exterior of the cage.
Jones has lengthy talked about shifting as much as heavyweight and vacated his mild heavyweight title after the win over Reyes in preparation of shifting up however for practically three years, no battle materialized.
Gane shortly emerged as one of many UFC’s elite heavyweights, debuting within the promotion in simply his fourth skilled battle. After rattling off seven straight wins within the Octagon and successful the interim title, Gane obtained a shot at Francis Ngannou for the complete world championship.
Ngannou, coping with a knee harm on the time, struggled early earlier than surprisingly utilizing his wrestling to repeatedly take Gane down and grind out a call to retain the title.
