glover-teixeira-usatsi-ufc.jpg
USATSI

Following a more than three-year layoff, mixed martial arts icon Jon Jones returns to the Octagon on Saturday in search of a championship in a second division when he takes on top-rated contender Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 285. Their five-round battle is the second of a title-fight doubleheader to anchor the pay-per-view main UFC 285 fight card (10 p.m. ET) from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Jones dropped from view following his controversial decision win over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020 to defend his light heavyweight title. He eventually vacated the crown and hinted at a potential return at heavyweight, but many MMA observers doubted he would ever set foot in the cage again. Now, he gets a title shot in his heavyweight debut against a dangerous opponent in Gane, who is widely considered the most versatile UFC heavyweight contender in recent memory.

Jones is a -170 favorite (risk $170 to win $100), while Gane comes back at +145 in the latest Caesars Sportsbook MMA odds for UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane. The co-main event also features a title fight as women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (-600) meets rising contender Alexa Grasso (+450). Before finalizing any UFC 285 picks, make sure you check out the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Kyle Marley.

Marley won the first-ever "ToutMaster" UFC betting contest sponsored by MMAOddsBreaker and appears regularly on multiple MMA betting and daily Fantasy shows. He watches every single fight for every professional MMA card and does extensive research before each event.

Over the past four years, $100 bettors who have followed Marley's picks are up nearly $12,000. In 2022, the accomplished MMA analyst launched the UFC season by advising SportsLine members to back Calvin Kattar (+200) against Giga Chikadze (-240) in the featherweight main event. Kattar's lopsided decision victory gave Marley's followers another easy winner. Anyone who has followed him has seen massive returns. 

Now, with UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane in sight, Marley has studied the card from top to bottom and revealed his top picks and best bets. You can only see Marley's MMA picks at SportsLine.

UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane preview 

The last time we saw Jones in the Octagon, he was squeaking out a narrow decision against then-surging contender Dominick Reyes. Jones appeared flat and somewhat disinterested as Reyes dominated the first two rounds with his pace and high-volume output. Jones came on strong in the latter rounds, but many MMA observers remain adamant that Reyes should have gotten the nod and ended Jones' decade of dominance in the division.

Instead, Jones (26-1-1) got his hand raised and walked away from what would have been a lucrative and anticipated rematch with Reyes. He eventually vacated the belt and expressed a desire to return as a heavyweight, and the UFC eyed a potential mega-fight with Jones taking on Ngannou. That matchup never materialized, and Ngannou has since left the promotion.

Just as Jones, 35, started to drift toward afterthought status, UFC president Dana White announced the former champion stated his desire to return and he was booked against Gane for the vacant heavyweight crown.

Gane (10-1) quickly emerged as the front-runner of a youth movement in the heavyweight division as the UFC sought an infusion of talent to help compensate for the retirement of former champion Daniel Cormier and the inactivity of once-dominant champion Stipe Miocic.

Gane was signed to the UFC after just three professional fights and fast-tracked into the rankings on the strength of an uncanny combination of size, agility and versatility. The 32-year-old French fighter has gone 8-1 in nine UFC appearances, with the sole defeat coming in a decision against Ngannou last year. See all of Marley's picks here. 

Top UFC 285 expert picks

One of Marley's top UFC 285 picks: He is backing Jalin Turner (+175) to pull the mild upset of Mateusz Gamrot (-210) in a battle of rising lightweight contenders on the main card.

Gamrot (21-2) stepped in as a short-notice replacement for fading journeyman Dan Hooker, who opened as a significant underdog to Turner in the MMA betting odds. But the 32-year-old Gamrot is favored against Turner because the Polish fighter is widely regarded as a nightmarish matchup for most of the division, particularly strikers. He is an accomplished wrestler and grappler who can nullify a striker's offense, and he pressures opponents relentlessly.

Numerous MMA observers have predicted Gamrot will compete for a UFC title within the next couple of years. But he could be unseated in that quest by Turner (13-5), who is considered the best striker among rising lightweight prospects and has also shown a competent ground game. The 27-year-old has finished five consecutive opponents, and three of those wins came by submission.

"Turner is dangerous on the ground, but his bigger edge will be on the feet. He is a big, long and powerful striker. If he can stay on his feet, he can win on the scorecards or get a knockout," Marley told SportsLine. See who else to pick here. 

How to make UFC 285 picks 

Marley has strong picks for Jones vs. Gane and every other bout on the UFC 285 card. He's also backing a fighter who "will have the overall striking advantage," to emerge with a big victory. Marley's expert picks and analysis are only available at SportsLine. 

Who wins UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane? And how exactly does each fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on every fight at UFC 285, all from the incomparable expert who's up nearly $12,000 on MMA in the past four years, and find out. 

UFC 285 odds, fight card

See full UFC 285 picks, predictions, best bets here.

Jon Jones (-170) vs. Ciryl Gane (+145)
Valentina Shevchenko (-600) vs. Alexa Grasso (+450)
Shavkat Rakhmonov (-500) vs. Geoff Neal (+380)
Mateusz Gamrot (-210) vs. Jalin Turner (+175)
Bo Nickal (-1700) vs. Jamie Pickett (+950)
Dricus Du Plessis (-240) vs. Derek Brunson (+200)
Amanda Ribas (-120) vs. Viviane Araujo (+100)
Marc-Andre Barriault (-145) vs. Julian Marquez (+125)
Cameron Saaiman (-275) vs. Mana Martinez (+225)
Tabatha Ricci (-265) vs. Jessica Penne (+225)
Farid Basharat (-480) vs. Da'Mon Blackshear (+360)
Cody Garbrandt (-165) vs. Trevin Jones (+145)
Ian Garry (-550) vs. Kenan Song (+400)