UFC

The long-awaited heavyweight debut of UFC star Jon Jones appears to be on the horizon, and it will be for a title. Jones confirmed to MMA content creator...

The graphic was later taken down, and MMA Fighting's [Steven Marrocco](https://twitter.com/MMAFightingSM/status/1614379795995045893) reported that it was a "behind-the-scenes mistake." [Ariel Helwani](https://twitter.com/arielhelwani/status/1614400996834414597) reported that heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is likely to be stripped of his title. The fight against Gane was the last one remaining on his UFC deal. The 35-year-old had other run-ins with the law throughout his career, as he'd previously been arrested for a hit-and-run, driving under the influence, and negligent use of a firearm, among other charges. He vacated the title a few months later before announcing his intentions to move up to heavyweight, taking some time to #UFC285 pic.twitter.com/3ItpnKY4ni

Heavyweight Gold Will Be On The Line In Las Vegas When Jon Jones Faces Ciryl Gane Inside T-Mobile Arena On March 4. Tickets Go On Sale Friday, January 20.

](https://www.axs.com/events/460337/ufc-285-tickets?skin=tmobile) [Click here to buy tickets! Interviews

White also announced the rematch of Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman.

Edward’s finish will go down as one of the best in UFC history and certainly the best of the last year. That has to live in the head of Usman a bit — he will see it over and over in the lead up to this matchup — but I’ll take Usman in this one. He has the speed and footwork to win against an aging Jones. Jones, 35, is 26-1 and holds the UFC record for most wins in title fight history. White also announced that the title fight rematch between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman will headline UFC 286 on March 18 in London. Jon Jones will officially move up to heavyweight and take on Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 on March 4, UFC president Dana White announced Saturday.

Jon Jones' long-awaited return will come March 4 for the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane, a bout that comes after the UFC failed to reach terms with ...

[Derrick Lewis](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/2560713/derrick-lewis) in August 2021. In his most recent appearance, he knocked out [Tai Tuivasa](http://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/3722422/tai-tuivasa) in the main event of a UFC Fight Night in September. White said Jones was "ready, willing and able" to fight any heavyweight, including Ngannou. He went on to hold the light heavyweight championship off and on from 2011 to 2020. He became the youngest UFC champion of all time in 2011 at age 23. White said the highest-paid heavyweight in UFC history remains

Dana White said the UFC offered Ngannou a contract that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight in UFC history, but that Ngannou had turned it ...

Francis Ngannou is no longer UFC heavyweight champion and now free to sign with any other combat sports promotion. Ngannou's split from the UFC comes after ...

"We offered Francis a deal that would have made him the highest paid heavyweight in the history of the company. [press conference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66uRauzIx6g) on Saturday in the immediate aftermath of [UFC Fight Night](https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/ufc-fight-night-results-highlights-sean-strickland-pieces-up-nassourdine-imavov-for-decision-win/). Ngannou is currently on a six-fight winning streak defeating the likes of Gane, Stipe Miocic, Cain Velasquez and Curtis Blaydes. Jon Jones](https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/ufc-285-fight-card-jon-jones-vs-ciryl-gane-set-for-heavyweight-title-clash-in-las-vegas-in-march/) will be contested for the vacant UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 285 in Las Vegas on March 4. And Jon Jones has been willing, and ready, and able to fight anybody. Francis Ngannou is no longer UFC heavyweight champion and now free to sign with any other combat sports promotion.

Sean Strickland is back in the win column and Nassourdine Imavov is back to the drawing board. Strickland boxed and brawled his way to victory in a ...

Gastelum exited the event due to a mouth injury and Strickland stepped in on four days' notice. Strickland, less than one month after losing to Jared Cannonier in the final UFC fight of 2022, headlined the first card of 2023. Imavov showed a lot of determination in his first main event, fighting fatigue and landing nice elbows and knees on Strickland in Round 5. The pace slowed in the third, despite a similar output of strikes, as both fighters tried to recover from the stamina dump in Rounds 1 and 2. Strickland won on all three scorecards with a pair of 49-46s and a 48-47. Strickland boxed and brawled his way to victory in a short-notice performance against Imavov at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

After opening the year with a split-decision victory over Jack Hermansson in February, Strickland was knocked out by Alex Pereira in July and edged by Jared ...

Imavov springs back up to his feet but Strickland uses his momentum to press Imavov up against the Octagon. Nurmagomedov missed with a knee to the body but instinctually threw and connected on a slick left hand that put Barcelos flat on his back. Kopylov rushed in with some punches until the ref stepped in and brought the action to a halt. He catches Strickland with a few shots before Strickland presses Imavov up against the Octagon. As a bloody Jackson was stalking, Ige stepped back and absolutely sat on a vicious left hook that blasted Jackson across the jaw and crumpled him backwards against the canvas. Imavov lands a quick shot but Strickland ties him up against the fence. Strickland is pressing Imavov up against the Octagon early. An overhand right and then a left finds a home for Imavov. Whiplashing left lands for Imavov but Strickland ties him up in the clinch once more. Just when it looks like Strickland is slowly tagging him, Imavov starts to pick up the action. A minute left and the two are trading body kicks. Strickland is pressing Imavov up against the fence.

Sean Strickland stepped up on short notice and won a unanimous decision over Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC Fight Night 217.

Enjoy the fights, everyone. Jimmy Flick vs. Charles Johnson. Round 1 – Alright, here we go with the first fight of 2023. Both fighters very cautious here ...

Vieira closes the distance and pins her against the cage. Alhassan closes the distance and pins Ribeiro against the cage. Rebecki closes the distance and punishes Fiore against the cage. Mendonca pushes Basharat against the fence. And Nascimento sinks in the rear-naked choke! And Argueta out-grapples Aguirre until the final bell. Argueta now presses and takes down Aguirre against the cage. And Aguirre loses the back and ends on bottom. Now Argueta presses Aguirre against the cage. Once again, Argueta presses Aguirre against the cage. And he gets the takedown and transitions to the back of Johnson. The card streams on ESPN+.

'Would've been the highest paid ever': UFC HW champ stripped, controversial star to fight for belt.

“I think Francis is in a place right now where he doesn’t want to take a lot of risk. White said the deal offered to Ngannou would’ve made the 36-year-old the “highest-paid heavyweight in the history of the company”. Jon Jones will return to the Octagon for the first time in three years, while now-former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has become a free agent, UFC president Dana White has announced.

In a corresponding move, Francis Ngannou has been removed as heavyweight champion and released from his contract. Ngannou is now a free agent and free to sign ...

After rattling off seven straight wins in the Octagon and winning the interim title, Gane got a shot at Francis Ngannou for the full world championship. From a no-contest against Daniel Cormier as a result of a failed drug test, which also resulted in Jones being stripped of the title in 2017, to other failed drug tests and legal trouble outside of the cage. Jones will face former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 285 on March 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Results As They Happen, Winner Interviews And More From UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs Imavov, Live From The UFC APEX In Las Vegas.

[Official Scorecards ](https://www.ufc.com/news/official-judges-scorecards-ufc-fight-night-strickland-vs-imavov-ufc-vegas-67) [Watch on ESPN+](https://plus.espn.com/ufc?ex_cid=DSS-OFF-UFC-INARTICLE-EN) [UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs Imavov](/event/ufc-fight-night-january-14-2023), live from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 14, 2023. [Sean Strickland](/athlete/sean-strickland)(25-5, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) looks to break into the middleweight Top 5 for the first time in his career. by way of Oahu, Hawaii) takes on [Roman Kopylov](http://www.ufc.com/athlete/Roman-Kopylov)(9-2, fighting out of Bachatsky, Kemerovo, Russia) [Watch on ESPN+](https://plus.espn.com/ufc?ex_cid=DSS-OFF-UFC-INARTICLE-EN) [Dan Ige](/athlete/dan-ige)(15-6, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. [Damon Jackson](/athlete/damon-jackson)(22-4-1 1NC, fighting out of Dallas, Texas) looks to make the most of his first UFC co-main event opportunity. [Ketlen Vieira](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/ketlen-vieira)(13-2, fighting out of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil) looks to stake her claim for a title shot when she takes on former title challenger and current No. by way of Accra, Ghana) in an intriguing middleweight bout [Watch on ESPN+](https://plus.espn.com/ufc?ex_cid=DSS-OFF-UFC-INARTICLE-EN) 13 ranked featherweight contender [Dan Ige](/athlete/dan-ige) squares off with streaking [Damon Jackson](/athlete/damon-jackson). [Carlos Hernandez](/athlete/carlos-hernandez), the Chute Boxe Diego Lima representative landed a front kick up the middle that caused Hernandez to pause and gave Nascimento the space he needed to get around to a back body lock. 12 ranked [Nassourdine Imavov](/athlete/nassourdine-imavov).

Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is released from the UFC. Jon Jones will return at UFC 285 to meet Ciryl Gane for the vacant title. 8h ago.

Jon Jones will face France's Cyril Gane for the UFC heavyweight title at the T-Mobile Arena on March 8 after champion Francis Ngannou vacated the belt to ...

His replacement as champion will be crowned when American Jones, a former light heavyweight champion who has previously been banned for doping, meets Gane, who held the interim heavyweight championship until he was beaten by Ngannou for the undisputed title in January 2022. Jan 15 (Reuters) - Jon Jones will face France's Cyril Gane for the UFC heavyweight title at the T-Mobile Arena on March 8 after champion Francis Ngannou vacated the belt to enter free agency, UFC president Dana White told a news conference. "We offered Francis a deal that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight in the history of the company, more than (former champion Brock) Lesnar, more than anybody, and he turned the deal down," White said.

Francis Ngannou will be released from his contract and is no longer the UFC heavyweight champion after he turned down a contract that would have made him ...

“We did everything we could to make the fight happen and give him the fight. He can go wherever he wants and do whatever he wants.” Ngannou had been in negotiations for a new agreement for two years, White said, and plans were in place for the 36-year-old to fight Jones.

UFC president Dana White confirmed Jon Jones will face Frances Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title at the T-Mobile Arena in March after champion Francis ...

He feels like he's in a position where he could fight lesser opponents and make more money, so we're going to let him do that and release him from our contract. "Francis is in a place now where he doesn't want to take a lot of risk. "We've been negotiating with [Ngannou] for more than two years," White said.

UFC star Jon Jones will make his return to the Octagon in the UFC 285 main event on March 4 in Las Vegas.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News.

[Gulf](/News/gulf) [World News](/News/world) Gane, a 32-year-old Frenchman, is 11-1-0 and ranked as the No. Jones boasts a career record of 26-1-0 with one no contest. [Sports](/sports) [AlArabiya](/)

Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic has largely remained silent on his fighting future, but that changed Sunday.

UFC president Dana White confirmed Jon Jones will face Frances Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title at the T-Mobile Arena in March after champion Francis ...

He feels like he's in a position where he could fight lesser opponents and make more money, so we're going to let him do that and release him from our contract. "Francis is in a place now where he doesn't want to take a lot of risk. "We've been negotiating with [Ngannou] for more than two years," White said.