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UFC 285 Jones vs. Gane Parlay Odds, Picks & Predictions (2023)

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The third PPV event of the year will feature two title fights with two of the greatest all-time fighters. Jon Jones will take on Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight belt, and Valentina Shevchenko will defend her strap against Alexa Grasso. There are many fights with wide odds on this card, as it features many top prospects looking to make a name for themselves. The early prelims will begin at 5:30 p.m. EST, the prelims will air on ESPN at 8 p.m. EST, and the PPV main card starts at 10 p.m. EST on ESPN+.

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Best UFC 285 Jones vs. Gane: Parlay Picks

2023 total: Down 5 units

Leg 1: Cameron Saaiman moneyline (-260)

The 22-year-old Saaiman will face 26-year-old Mana Martinez in a bantamweight bout in the early prelims. Saaiman is a 7-0 fighter from South Africa who earned a contract with a knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series and won by knockout in his UFC debut. He is extremely young and is in a talented division, so the UFC is not trying to rush him into a fight unprepared.

Saaiman is a southpaw who lands 4.06 significant strikes per minute while only absorbing 1.81 strikes. Martinez is an orthodox fighter who lands 4.43 significant strikes per minute and absorbs 4.03 strikes. Martinez will have a three-inch advantage in reach, but Saaiman’s stance could present problems for him. Martinez lost his DWCS fight in 2020 but debuted in 2021. He is 2-1 in the UFC with two split decision victories and a unanimous decision loss to Ronnie Lawrence. Saaiman should dictate where this fight takes place and can use his full array of weapons on the feet to get the victory.

Leg 2: Valentina Shevchenko money line (-750)

The “Bullet” is a massive favorite again, but this time against Alexa Grasso. Shevchenko has lost two fights since entering the UFC, both against Amanda Nunes, and has defended her flyweight belt six times since then. Talia Santos landed three takedowns but lost a split decision in Shevchenko’s most competitive fight in years. Grasso should not offer the pedigree of wrestling as Santos and will likely try to keep this fight standing. However, Shevchenko averages 2.53 takedowns per 15 minutes, so it is only a matter of time before Grasso ends up on her back.

Grasso is on a four-fight win streak and has faced opponents who could and did take her down. She prevailed over Maycee Barber despite being taken down three times and beat Viviane Araujo in a five-round main event despite Araujo’s two takedowns. She will have a much tougher time getting up against Valentina. Both women are talented strikers, with Grasso having great boxing and Shevchenko utilizing phenomenal kickboxing. Shevchenko has faced great boxers like Holly Holm and beat her at a heavier division. Shevchenko should display her total MMA package in this fight against the tough competitor, Grasso.

Leg 3: Jon Jones moneyline (-170)

“Bones” will return to the octagon after a three-year layoff as he transformed his body into a heavyweight physique. He will face Ciryl Gane for the belt, which was vacated by Francis Ngannou when he declined to renew his UFC contract. Gane lost to Ngannou in early 2022 and showed a weakness in his game. Ngannou landed four takedowns against Gane and had nearly eight and a half minutes of control time in a unanimous decision victory. He will again put his wrestling to the test against Jones with the heavyweight strap on the line. Jones lands 1.85 takedowns per 15 minutes and has vicious ground and pound. He also has defended 95% of takedowns offered by opponents. Jones will dictate where this fight takes place.

Gane will offer a challenge on the feet since he is a skilled, athletic striker. Jones has faced plenty of threatening strikers during his reign as light heavyweight champion and has used his elite, creative striking to compete with all of them. Both men have very similar striking statistics, and it will likely be competitive on the feet.

Jones has been working with former bodybuilder, Stan Efferding, to transform his body into what it is now. Efferding and Jones added the weight necessary for a heavyweight but kept Jones’ speed and conditioning intact. He weighed in at 248 pounds, a half-pound more than Gane. Jones was dominant at light heavyweight by using wrestling and creativity inside the octagon. It will be no different at heavyweight, especially since he prepared expeditiously for his move up.

Parlay: +149 on DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings is the best place to play this parlay, and betting one unit or less is the best way to attack it. The PPV main event starts at 10 p.m. EST on ESPN+.

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