Shocking Upsets and Dominant Performances at UFC 285
At UFC 285, fans were treated to an action-packed night of fights. The main event saw Jon Jones take on Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title. In a thrilling fight, Jones emerged victorious with a first round submission via guillotine choke.
In the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko defended her flyweight title against Alexa Grasso. Despite Shevchenko’s best efforts, it was Grasso who emerged victorious by unanimous decision.
The rest of the card provided plenty of excitement as well. Cody Garbrandt defeated Trevin Jones by unanimous decision, while Dricus Du Plessis and Shavkat Rakhmonov both earned impressive victories in their respective fights. Here’s our recap:
UFC 285 Fight Results
Loik Radzhabov and Esteban Ribovics faced off in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for UFC 285. After three rounds of intense fighting, Radzhabov emerged victorious with a unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
Farid Basharat and Da’mon Blackshear faced off in the octagon. After three rounds of intense action, Farid Basharat emerged victorious with a unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).
Tabatha Ricci put on a dominant performance at UFC 285, submitting Jessica Penne with an armbar at 2:14 of the second round. Ricci was able to control the fight from start to finish, eventually locking in the submission to secure the victory. The win marks three consecutive victories for Ricci and is sure to be remembered as one of her most impressive performances.
Cameron Saaiman defeated Mana Martinez by majority decision (29–26, 28–27, 28–28). The fight was an exciting back-and-forth between two talented fighters. Though both fighters had their moments of success throughout the bout, Saaiman ultimately earned the judges’ nod with a combination of effective striking and grappling. Referee Herb Dean also deducted a point from Martinez due to multiple fouls during the fight. Saaiman’s victory over Martinez is yet another impressive win for the rising star, who continues to prove himself as one of the best bantamweights in MMA today.
At UFC 285, Ian Machado Garry defeated Song Kenan by TKO via punches at 4:22 of Round 3. The victory was celebrated in style, reminiscent of Conor McGregor’s iconic strut.
Marc-Andre Barriault defeated Julian Marquez by TKO via punches at 4:12 of the second round. Barriault was the slight favorite going into the fight and put on an impressive performance to secure his 15th win in his professional career. After a back-and-forth first round, Barriault turned up the heat in Round 2 and landed a flurry of punches that forced Marquez to cover up and eventually led to the stoppage.
Amanda Ribas defeated Viviane Araujo by a unanimous decision (29–27, 30–26, 30–27). Ribas was the favorite going into the fight and climbed to 12-3 after the fight while Araujo fell to 11-5. Ribas surprised many fans with her performance on the feet as she dropped Araujo multiple times during the fight. In the end, it was Ribas who earned the judges’ favor and won by a unanimous decision.
At UFC 285, Dricus Du Plessis scored a TKO victory against Derek Brunson in the second round of their middleweight bout. Du Plessis was the favorite to win and he proved why with a relentless attack that left Brunson unable to continue. After several punishing punches, Brunson was sent to the mat in fatigue and Du Plessis continued his onslaught until Brunson’s corner threw in the towel. It was an impressive performance by Du Plessis who remains undefeated in the UFC.
Cody Garbrandt earned a unanimous decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over Trevin Jones. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Garbrandt who improved his professional record to 13-5. The fight was an entertaining affair that saw both fighters exchanging combinations on the feet and engaging in a couple of grappling exchanges. Garbadnt was the more effective striker, landing several hard shots while also showing good defensive awareness. In the end, it was “No Love” who earned all three judges’ favour and secured his first win since December 2018.
Bo Nickal made a statement in his Octagon debut by submitting Jamie Pickett via arm triangle choke at 2:54 of Round 1. The former Penn State University wrestling standout was able to confirm the hype surrounding him with this impressive victory. Nickal’s quick submission earned him praise from fellow fighters and fans alike, as he lived up to the hype in his first UFC fight. His performance also earned him a Performance of the Night bonus from the UFC.
Mateusz Gamrot defeated Jalin Turner by split decision (29–28, 28–29, 30–27). The two top-ranked lightweights clashed in a tough and gruelling fight that saw both fighters put their skills to the test. Mateusz Gamrot dominated on the ground while Jalin Turner rocked him a few times. However, it was ultimately Gamrot who came out on top with the judges awarding him the victory.
Shavkat Rakhmonov defeated Geoff Neal by submission via rear naked choke at 4:17 of Round 3. The fight was a back-and-forth slugfest that saw both fighters take their fair share of shots. In the end, it was Rakhmonov who emerged victorious.
Co-Main Event – Flyweight Title
Alexa Grasso pulled off a stunning upset when she defeated Valentina Shevchenko by submission via rear naked choke at 4:34 of Round 4. This was an unexpected result as many had predicted Shevchenko to retain her flyweight title.
Grasso’s victory was met with shock and awe from the MMA community. The Mexican fighter was a huge underdog coming into the fight before securing the rear-naked choke in the fourth round. With this win, Grasso became the first Mexican woman to hold a UFC championship belt.
The fight between Grasso and Shevchenko was an intense battle that showcased both fighters’ skill and determination. In the end, it was Grasso who emerged victorious with her impressive submission technique.
Main Event – Heavyweight Title
At UFC 285, Jon Jones made an impressive return to the octagon after three years away, taking on Ciryl Gane in a heavyweight title fight. In the first round, Jones secured a guillotine choke submission, showcasing his grappling prowess and proving why he is considered one of the greatest of all time. This win cements Jones’ status as one of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts history and makes him the new undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.
UFC 285 was a night to remember. From Jon Jones winning the heavyweight title with a first-round submission of Ciryl Gane to Jake Gyllenhaal’s surprise appearance at the weigh-in, it was an event full of excitement and anticipation. The UFC has set the bar high for its next event, and fans can’t wait to see what’s in store.
