This space will be your one-stop shop for UFC 285 highlights and results on Saturday night.
The card from inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada is the most anticipated event in the first quarter of the 2023 UFC schedule. The reason why is that the event features not just two title fights but also a pair of future Hall-of-Famers competing for gold.
In the headliner, light heavyweight legend Jon Jones returns after three years away from the sport and moves up to the heavyweight division to challenge for the title of baddest man on the planet against former interim champion Ciryl Gane.
Related: 5 bold UFC Predictions for UFC 285, including Bones getting gold
While in the co-main event, flyweight goddess Valentina Shevchenko looks to defend her title for the ninth time when she takes on top contender Alexa Grasso. The card also features several main card matchups that will have major ramifications on the middleweight rankings, welterweight rankings, and lightweight rankings.
UFC 285 highlights and results
Here you can find UFC 285 results and highlights from the action-packed card inside the T-Moble Arena in Las Vegas.
Farid Basharat def. Da’Mon Blackshear via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Over the three rounds of their matchup at UFC 285, Farid Basharat showed that he was the far more complete and technical fighter on the feet and ground. However, Da’Mon Blackshear almost scored a hail mary win with seconds left in the third, but was thwarted by the clock and fell by unanimous decision.
Loik Radzhabov def. Esteban Ribovics via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Loik Radzhabov and Esteban Ribovics went to war over three hard-fought rounds but despite the best efforts of Ribovics, the veteran of the PFL was able to get the nod from the judges in two of the three rounds. Scoring a unanimous decision.
Tabatha Ricci def. Jessica Penne via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 2:14
Tabatha Ricci was a big favorite against Octagon veteran Jessica Penne on Saturday night. And she showed why by mauling her for a round and a half before a definitive submission finish in the second. The win moves her winning streak to three straight.
Cameron Saaiman def. Mana Martinez via unanimous decision (29-26, 28-27, 28-28)
Despite some outstanding kicks from Mana Martinez that did major damage to Cameron Saaiman’s leg in the first, the 22-year-old prospect was able to roar back in the final rounds. Hurting and dominating his foe at times and score a majority decision win at UFC 285.
Ian Garry def. Song Kenan via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:22
After some early resistance and a knockdown from Song Kenan, the undefeated prospect Ian Garry was able to build momentum against his opponent in the second and third rounds. In the third, the Irish talent was able to hurt and finish his foe. Scoring his fourth straight win in the promotion, this time by technical knockout.
Marc-Andre Barriault def. Julian Marquez via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:12
Julian Marquez got off to a very fast start in his UFC 285 clash with Marc-Andre Barriault. Landing big shots and working a very nice jab against his foe during a dominant first round. However, the Canadian came back with a vengeance in the second frame. Pressuring the American and eventually hurting Marquez. After falling short in two of his last three fights, Barriault got back in the win column on Saturday. Scoring his first TKO win in two years.
Amanda Ribas def. Viviane Araujo by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-27)
Viviane Araujo had a solid first round after Amanda Ribas came out fast to start the fight. However, after the gains in the first, Ribas landed a big overhanded right that floored her foe and led to a dominant second. While Araujo threatened with an armbar in the third, Ribas was the clear better fighter in the third and scored a unanimous decision win in Vegas.
Dricus Du Plessis def. Derek Brunson by TKO, between Round 2 and Round 3
Derek Brunson got off to a strong start in the first round of his preliminary card matchup with Dricus Du Plessis, landing two takedowns in the opening frame. However, the second round was an all-out war. As the South African hurt his foe several times and Brunson showed the heart of a lion by surviving. In the end, the onslaught was too much and with the American badly hurt at the end of the round, his corner threw in the towel before the start of the third. Handing Du Plessis a career-defining TKO victory.
Cody Garbrandt def. Trevin Jones by unanimous decision (29-28 3X)
With former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt badly in need of a win, he fought a careful and well-round fight to secure a unanimous decision win over Trevin Jones on Saturday. The performance was far from vintage Garbrandt as he played keep away often and garnered boos from the fans inside the T-Mobile Arena. While he ended his losing skid at UFC 285, it wasn’t a showing that offered up any classic highlights of the former champ.
Bo Nickal def. Jamie Pickett by submission – Round 1, 2:54
Three-time NCAA wrestling champion Bo Nickal was an obscene favorite making his UFC debut at UFC 285. Opponent Jamie Pickett tried to resist his takedown advances, however, he succumbed to the efforts and was grounded in the first few minutes. While he struggled a bit to lock in a fight-ending finish, he was able to make the UFC veteran tap midway through the first round.
Mateusz Gamrot def. Jalin Turner by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Mateusz Gamrot versus Jalin Turner was a matchup many diehard fight fans were looking forward to. Early on, it was clear that the American was going to be trouble on the feet for the former KSW champion, and those advantages won him the opening round to many UFC 285 observers. However, a dedicated wrestling attack by Gamrot was too much for Turner in the second and third rounds. Despite his best efforts, he came up short to the rising lightweight star by a split decision.
Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Geoff Neal by submission – Round 3, 0:43
Shavkat Rakhmonov versus Geoff Neal was a highly entertaining clash of talented strikers and top 15 welterweights at UFC 285. Many had questions if Rakhmonov’s hype train could get passed the ranked veteran. While the American proved that the native of Kazakhstan was even more durable than fans realized, he became victim 17 to “Nomad.
Rakhmonov moved to 17-0 at UFC 285 by scoring the ninth submission win of his career. If there were any doubters of how good this young star can be, they got a resounding response on Saturday.
Alexa Grasso def. Valentina Shevchenko by submission – Round 4 (4:34)
Alexa Grasso earned early success against defending champion Valentina Shevchenko with her boxing in their bout at UFC 285. Her boxing was a growing problem and forced Shevchenko to deploy her grappling to swing the momentum. It worked for the next two rounds until things changed in the fourth.
The Mexican star was able to finally start stuffing the takedowns and turned the fight into a standup fight again. Midway through the round, Shevchenko missed on a spinning kick and Grasso pounced on her back immediately to lock in a fight, and title reign ending rear naked choke submission. Creating one of the biggest upsets in women’s flyweight and MMA history.
Jon Jones def. Ciryl Gane by submission – Round 1 (2:12)
UFC legend Jon Jones did not need long to climb back to the top of the UFC. After some early exchanges in the opening round, the former light heavyweight champion was able to get an expected takedown and did not let Ciryl Gane get back up. He was able to get the Frenchman stuck against the cage on his butt, and when Gane least expected it he snapped up a fight-ending guillotine choke to solidify his place as the greatest UFC fighter of all time with a belt in a second division. Jones is the new heavyweight champion of the world and may hold on to that belt for years to come.
Below you can find the full UFC 285 card and odds heading into the March 4 event.
UFC 285 betting odds
UFC 285 is a 14-fight card that features pound-for-pound stars, established veterans, elite prospects, and fighters looking to make a name for themselves on the biggest stage in MMA.
Along with the monumental Jones vs Gane and Shevchenko vs Grasso title clashes, Geoff Neal against Shavkat Rakhmonv is a must-see fight with the Kazakstan native having Khamzat Chimaev-like hype behind him before his fifth UFC fight. The fact that he is a -490 favorite says a lot since Neal is a ranked talent at welterweight.
However, the biggest and wildest betting line on the card is the -1800 odds super prospect Bo Nickal is getting against Jamie Picket. But when you are a three-time national wrestling champion who hasn’t faced a bit of resistance in a short MMA career, those are the sorts of wild lines that come in the world of MMA.
You can get the full UFC 285 odds run down below.
Main Card
- Jon Jones (-175) vs. Ciryl Gane (+150)
- Valentina Shevchenko (-850) vs. Alexa Grasso (+600)
- Geoff Neal (+380) vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov (-475)
- Mateusz Gamrot (-210) vs. Jalin Turner (+180)
- Jamie Pickett (+1000) vs. Bo Nickal (-1800)
Preliminary Card
- Cody Garbrandt (-175) vs. Trevin Jones (+150)
- Derek Brunson (+185) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (-215)
- Viviane Araujo (+100) vs. Amanda Ribas (-120)
- Julian Marquez (+130) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (-150)
- Ian Garry (-730) vs. Kenan Song (+530)
- Mana Martinez (+220) vs. Cameron Saaiman (-260)
- Jessica Penne (+250) vs. Tabatha Ricci (-300)
- Farid Basharat (-450) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear (+360)
- Loik Radzhabov (-215) vs. Esteban Ribovics (+185)