UFC 285: Jon Jones becomes the undisputed GOAT, Alexa Grasso wins against Valentina Shevchenko

UFC 285 was a banger as it lived up to the anticipation with two historic performances to cap off the event in Las Vegas. Jon Jones crushed Ciryl Gane and quickly claimed the heavyweight belt. In the co-main event, Alexa Grasso ended Valentina Shevchenko’s reign. Jones only took one blow the whole battle, and it was an illegal kick to the crotch. After a three-year break from the sport, Jones did not skip a beat. Pundits declared that Jones’ best option was to wrestle his opponent, and the champion agreed.

UFC 285 match card

Main Event

• Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane, heavyweight title fight – Jones def. Gane by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:04 of Round One
• (C) Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso, women’s flyweight title fight – Grasso def. Shevchenko by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:34 of Round Four
• Geoff Neal vs Shavkat Rakhmonov, welterweight – Rakhmonov def. Neal by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:17 of Round Three
• Mateusz Gamrot vs Jalin Turner, lightweight – Gamrot def. Turner by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
• Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett, middleweight – Nickal def. Pickett by submission (arm triangle choke) at 2:54 of Round One

Preliminary card

• Cody Garbrandt vs Trevin Jones, bantamweight – Garbrandt def. Jones by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
• Derek Brunson vs Dricus Du Plessis, middleweight – Du Plessis def. Brunson by TKO (corner stoppage) at 4:59 of Round Two
• Viviane Araujo vs Amanda Ribas, women’s flyweight – Ribas def. Araujo by unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-27)|
• Juliane Marquez vs Marc-Andre Barriault, middleweight – Barriault def. Marquez by TKO (punches) at 4:12 of Round Two

Early preliminary card

• Ian Garry vs Kenan Song, welterweight – Garry def. Song by TKO (punches) at 4:22 of Round Three
• Mana Martinez vs Cameron Saaiman, bantamweight – Saaiman def. Martinez by majority decision (29-26, 28-27, 28-28)
• Jessica Penne vs Tabatha Ricci, women’s strawweight – Ricci def. Penne by submission (armbar) at 2:14 of Round Two
• Da’mon Blackshear vs Farid Basharat, bantamweight – Basharat def. Blackshear by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
• Esteban Ribovics vs Loik Radzhabov, lightweight – Radzhabov def. Ribovics by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane

Jon Jones is the new UFC heavyweight champion, strengthening his claim to be the greatest fighter in mixed martial arts history. Jones used a guillotine choke on Ciryl Gane in the first round of their UFC 285 main event to force the tap and win the championship. Jones surrounded Gane, got an early takedown, and locked up a guillotine choke against the fence.

It was a brief, faultless, yet slightly underwhelming performance that lasted barely two minutes and four seconds. Jones then called out former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, fueling Miocic’s earlier remarks this week announcing that he’d face the winner at UFC 290 on July 8 during UFC International Fight Week.

Winner: Jon Jones

READ MORE: Jon Jones on the path to legendary status

Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso

The end of an era in the women’s flyweight category was signified with UFC 285. Alexa Grasso defeated Valentina Shevchenko in a surprising upset to terminate a title run that dated back to 2018. In the opening round, Grasso acquired some early momentum. Her boxing appeared to take Shevchenko off guard early on, and she won the round with clean striking.

Yet it appeared that Bullet would do her regular thing and take over the battle as it went. For the bulk of the following two rounds, her wrestling resulted in control and damage. Shevchenko attempted to fight on the mat again in the fourth round, but Grasso took advantage of the situation, jumping on her opponent’s back and sinking in the choke that would earn her the belt. Grasso’s capitulation was the most unlikely outcome.

Winner: Alexa Grasso

Geoff Neal vs Shavkat Rakhmonov

If the purpose was to see if Shavkat Rakhmonov could win in a tough situation, the Nomad did everything he could on Saturday night. Geoff Neal pushed Rakhmonov, but it wasn’t enough to prevent him from finishing.

Neal probably landed more punches than Rakhmonov encountered during his MMA career. Rakhmonov was troubled on several times by Handz of Steel. He did everything he could to end his opponent’s undefeated record, but Rakhmonov demonstrated his toughness. He endured all Neal had to offer until securing the tap with a standing rear naked choke in the last minute of the bout.

Winner: Shavkat Rakhmonov

Mateusz Gamrot vs Jalin Turner

Jalin Turner didn’t quite get the hallmark win he desired against Mateusz Gamrot, but he certainly kept things intriguing. Gamrot was victorious by a split decision in a battle that might have gone anyway. Turner was trying to extend his winning streak to six fights while competing against a rated opponent. He was slated to fight Dan Hooker, but Hooker backed out, thus Gamrot took the fight on short notice.

Turner’s length and hitting were tough for him to cope with. Gamrot was coming off a tough decision defeat to Beneil Dariush, but he didn’t let it derail him. Gamrot’s wrestling proved decisive in this one. Turner had his moments in the stand-up, but the 32-year-old was able to switch to wrestling whenever his opponent’s striking gained momentum.

Winner: Mateusz Gamrot

Bo Nickal vs Jamie Pickett

Jamie Pickett put Bo Nickal through the most difficult test of his MMA career. Pickett, on the other hand, lasted over three minutes in the ring with the three-time Division I national champion wrestler.

The former Penn State standout has won his last three fights in under 62 seconds. Pickett was only the first to repel Nickal’s initial capitulation attempt. Throughout the fight, Nickal was patient and relentless. In a battle that lasted 2:54, he had 2:30 of control time.

Winner: Bo Nickal