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UFC 285 Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane: Best Bets & Picks (2023)

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UFC 285 gets underway this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This card features an incredibly deep lineup with two epic title fights set to take place.

In the main event, the vacant heavyweight title is on the line as Jon Jones makes his long-awaited return to the octagon to take on Ciryl Gane. Jones opened up as a +130 underdog before the line was completely flipped and bet up to his current price of -155.

Here are a few of our top picks for UFC 285.

Also, take a look at our other best bets for Saturday:

UFC 285 Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane: Best Bets & Picks (2023)

Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane

Simply put, these two guys are on two very different levels, regardless of Jones’ three-year layoff. Gane’s most likely path to victory is catching Jones and winning via KO/TKO, although Jones has an iron chin and has never been stopped inside the cage.

On the flip side, Jones could win this fight by any method. He could utilize his grappling advantage and take Gane to the ground, beating him with wrestling or even submit him.

Jones could also utilize his three-inch reach advantage to keep Gane at distance and pick his moments, which could lead to a Jones KO/TKO victory or a decision victory. There are just numerous more paths for Jones to win this fight, where, on the other hand, Gane’s chance in this scrap likely hinges on being the first one in history to knock out Jones.

Everything else that has occurred in his career (in and out of the octagon) aside, Jones will remind everyone why he is still the GOAT of MMA.

Best Bet: Jon Jones ML (-155 via DraftKings) – 3u

More UFC 285 Betting Previews:

UFC 285 Prelims

Da’Mon Blackshear (+330) vs. Farid Basharat (-410)

The market definitely favors Basharat in this matchup between two UFC rookies, but I’m taking a slightly different approach with this handicap. While both men enter with one UFC fight each (Basharat was officially a DWCS fight), both of which went the full three rounds, and I believe there is some recency bias at work in the total rounds market.

Starting with Blackshear, five of his previous six victories were achieved through submission. For Bashrat, who is 9-0 and has dispatched six of his first eight opponents inside three rounds, the situation is similar.

In their professional careers, these two have combined to win 71% of the time inside the circle. This one ends early.

Bet: Under 2.5 Rounds (+140 via DraftKings)

Check out all of our UFC 285 Prelims picks >>

UFC 285 Jones vs. Gane: Prop Bet Odds & Picks

Julian Marquez (+105) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (-125)

Marc-Andre Barriault (MAB), who began his UFC career with three straight losses, has subsequently gone 3-2 with victories over Abu Azaitar, Dalcha Lungiambula, and Jordan Wright. MAB uses his striking to drag the opponent into deep waters and with above-average cardio for this division, he should be able to accomplish the same thing here with striking advantages all around.

As for Marquez, a two-fight winning streak in 2021 was stopped in June by Gregory Rodrigues after he spent nearly three years outside the octagon from 2018 to 2020.  Although his previous three victories had all been by way of submission, Marquez’s defeat marked the first time in the UFC that he was unable to use his ground game to his advantage.

In addition, MAB ought to be able to thwart those advances with a 61% takedown defense.

The largest advantage, in my opinion, comes from MAB’s use of training sessions with Marquez’s most recent foe Rodrigues in his buildup to this bout. Moreover, Daniel Mendez, Rodrigues’ trainer and striking coach, has been working with him and will be in his corner for this bout.

With edges everywhere, MAB gets it done early here.

Bet: Marc-Andre Barriault – Inside the Distance (+130 via DraftKings)

Check out all of our UFC 285 Jones vs. Gane: Prop Bet Odds & Picks >>

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