Jon Jones (35, USA), who voluntarily returned the championship belt he had kept for 15 years, is about to return after two and a half years.

On the 4th (hereinafter Korean time), Jones passed the weigh-in for the heavyweight title at the ‘UFC 285: Jones vs. Gan’ weigh-in held at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

On the 5th, Jones will compete with former UFC heavyweight interim champion Cyril Gahn (32, France) for the vacant heavyweight title.

Jones finally made it to the heavyweight division. His entry into the heavyweight division has been discussed for over 10 years. He had been virtually undefeated for 15 years at light heavyweight, so he was expected to challenge for a higher weight class, heavyweight.

Jones finally announced his move to heavyweight, returning the light heavyweight title in August 2020. He spent the next two and a half years building his body.

He gained about 10kg. Jones’ light heavyweight fight weight, revealed against Alexander Gustafsson in 2018, was 222.5 pounds.  

Although he fell short of the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds (about 120.2 kg), he built a heavy body even among heavyweights. It weighs more than former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (40, USA), Daniel Comier (43, USA), and Fabricio Werdum (45, Brazil). 

The key is whether he will be able to maintain the same physical ability as he did in the light heavyweight division. Excessive weight gain can lead to a decrease in speed and stamina. But Jones boasted that he combined “light heavyweight speed” with “heavyweight strength.” 

After the weigh-in, Jones said, “I am blessed with tremendous talent,” and declared, “Tomorrow I will still be a champion.” Although he is not the current official champion, he has shown his determination to compete with the mindset of a champion as he has never lost a belt.  메이저사이트

His opponent, Gan, also finished the weigh-in at 247.5 pounds (112.3 kg), a nearly equal weight.  

“This match is like a big bonus for me,” said Gan. “If I win tomorrow, I will become the world’s strongest man. And since Jones is the greatest fighter (GOAT) in history, that is also an additional bonus,” he expressed his anticipation. 

Both fighters competing for the co-main event, the women’s flyweight title, also passed the weigh-in.

Champion Valentina Shevchenko (34, Kyrgyzstan) and Alexa Grasso (29, Mexico) weighed in at 124.5 pounds (approximately 56.5 kg).

“She feels as strong as always and is ready to fight,” Shevchenko exclaimed. “Whatever Grasso is good at, I’m more than twice as good at it.”

Challenger Grasso said, “It will be a war.” 

UFC 285: Jones VS Gan main card will be broadcast live on TVING from 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 5th. Undercard will be broadcast live on TVING from 10:00 am.