5 fights to make for UFC 285 winners

The third UFC pay-per-view of 2023 is now in the books. UFC 285 went down this past Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, where MMA fans were treated to another action-packed fight card.

The pay-per-view headliner saw the return of longtime light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones, who made quick work of Ciryl Gane to capture the vacant heavyweight belt and cap off an incredible night of scorching MMA action.

THE GREATEST. #UFC285 https://t.co/4pZ7YLw9dF

While Jones and newly-crowned flyweight queen Alexa Grasso's next fights are pretty easy to deduce, the rest of the victors at UFC 285 will be looking to move onwards and upwards as they work their way towards UFC gold.

On that note, here are five fights to make for the biggest winners at UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane.

#5. Bo Nickal vs. Joaquin Buckley

Bo Nickal kicked off his UFC career in style at the recently concluded pay-per-view, making the most of his main card placement to deliver his third first-round submission on the bounce. Nickal advanced his overall record to 4-0 with his win over Jamie Pickett and his stock has rightfully skyrocketed.

Bo Nickal keeps his 100% finish rate intact with his fourth first round finish 😤 #UFC285 https://t.co/4dN0A1ppj5

Given how quickly Bo Nickal has dispatched his opponents so far, a step-up in competition is likely. Still just 27 years old, the collegiate wrestling standout has tons of time to ascend the middleweight ranks. The UFC should ideally give him time to improve before putting him in against ranked contenders.

Among the most popular unranked 185-pounders on the roster is Joaquin Buckley, who would be a suitable next opponent for Nickal. The always-explosive Buckley is hard to take down, and on the feet, 'New Mensa' has a diverse and devastating arsenal of attacks.

Nickal's popularity will continue to grow if he upholds his perfect finishing rate. Another stoppage victory, especially against a dangerous fighter like Buckley, will serve as a real statement of intent to the rest of the middleweight contenders.

Buckley vs. Nickal [Images via @newmensa94 & @bonickal1 on Instagram]

#4. Dricus du Plessis vs. Jared Cannonier

Dricus du Plessis picked up his fifth inside the famed octagon this past Saturday, blowing past perennial middleweight contender Derek Brunson to break into the top tier of the division. 'Stillknocks' is now tantalizingly close to a shot at gold.

"That means I'm top 5 in the world!"

"I'm coming for the No. 1 spot!"

@dricusduplessis just made a statement! 😤

#UFC285 https://t.co/2aBjd8JHzX

Dricus du Plessis' sensational TKO win over Derek Brunson was his fourth finish in the world's premier MMA promotion and he has quickly emerged as one of the most entertaining fighters in the division. With eight knockouts and ten submission wins across his professional career, he is one of the most lethal finishers at 185 pounds.

The South African will likely claim Brunson's No.5 spot in the middleweight rankings when the updated rankings come out. The ideal next fight for du Plessis would be against former title challenger Jared Cannonier, who currently occupies the No.3 spot.

Cannonier is coming off a narrow but uninspiring win over Sean Strickland late last year, and considering the nature of his lopsided loss in his championship bid last year, likely needs another win to re-enter title contention.

If du Plessis can tame 'Tha Killa Gorilla', we could see the first-ever South African title challenger in UFC history later this year.

Cannonier vs. du Plessis [Images via @ufc & @dricusduplessis on Instagram]

#3. Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Sean Brady

Apart from the two title fights atop the card, all eyes were on the Geoff Neal vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov bout, which turned out to be an early Fight of the Year contender. Ultimately, Rakhmonov kept his perfect record intact to move up the welterweight ranks and surely has a bright future ahead of him.

RAKHMONOV STILL UNDEFEATED 🥶

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While all of Shavkat Rakhmonov's previous fights were one-sided beatdowns, Geoff Neal pushed the Kazakh phenom to the absolute limit at UFC 285. Rakhmonov absorbed numerous heavy blows from 'Handz of Steel' throughout the fight, but managed to pull off a last-ditch submission before the final bell.

With his win over Neal, Rakhmonov upheld his 100% finish rate and is now the consensus divisional dark horse. While he did call for a fight against former interim champion Colby Covington in his post-fight interview, pairing him with fellow rising contender Sean Brady makes more sense.

Brady and Rakhmonov are among the best grapplers at 170 pounds, which should make for a fun clash of styles. This would be a perfect Fight Night headliner, giving both fighters a chance to showcase whether they're ready for five-round fights and headlining responsibilities.

If Rakhmonov comes away with another finish, a title shot can't be too far away.

Brady vs. Rakhmonov [Images via @seanbradymma & @shavkatrakhmonov on Instagram]

#2. Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 2 – UFC women's flyweight title fight

As we see every year in this crazy and unpredictable sport, underdogs can never be counted out. Alexa Grasso stunned the world at UFC 285, dethroning one of the most dominant champions in MMA history to become the third Mexican-born fighter to claim UFC gold.

ALEXA GRASSO HAS SUBMITTED VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO!!

WE HAVE A NEW FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION 👑🇲🇽 #UFC285 https://t.co/t4HMH5vXnw

Alexa Grasso was a massive betting underdog heading into her fight with Valentina Shevchenko in the pay-per-view co-headliner. The Mexican flyweight was largely counted out by fans and pundits alike, with most picking Shevchenko to retain her title rather comfortably.

Grasso showed tremendous heart and grit in the first three rounds, standing toe-to-toe with Shevchenko on the feet. The champion started pulling ahead with her takedowns as the fight went on, and it felt as though she would cruise to another title defense halfway through the fourth round.

Out of nowhere, Grasso pounced on Shevchenko's back as the latter attempted a spinning attack and sunk in a brutal neck-crank to force a tap. Considering Shevchenko's prior accomplishments in the division, an immediate rematch is all but guaranteed.

This fight was much closer than the masses expected it to be. It'll be interesting to see what adjustments both fighters make in the sequel, which is expected to go down later this year, possibly in Mexico.

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#1. Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – UFC heavyweight title fight

Jon Jones' UFC return couldn't have gone any better. Widely regarded as the greatest talent in MMA history, 'Bones' captured the heavyweight championship in style, submitting Ciryl Gane to become a two-division champion and further solidiying his standing as the GOAT.

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME IS NOW THE HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMP 🏆

JON JONES SUBMITS CIRYL GANE!! #UFC285 https://t.co/JOiAnweVJ5

The betting odds were almost even going into the UFC 285 headliner, with Jon Jones even opening as an underdog. While he eventually closed as a slight favorite, few could've predicted how quickly he would defeat Ciryl Gane, who had never been finished previously.

Jones' first title defense will be against former champion Stipe Miocic, with both fighters and UFC president Dana White confirming the blockbuster matchup soon after the fight. Miocic is considered the greatest heavyweight of all time, so a fight against 'Bones' sells itself.

Jones vs. Miocic is a monumental clash between two fighters who are already legends of the sport.

Jon Jones calls out Stipe Miocic at #UFC285 👀🔥 https://t.co/WgSfVl9yBL