5 frontrunners for Fight of the Night at UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane

The third UFC pay-per-view of 2023 will be underway at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, this weekend. UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane is undoubtedly the most stacked fight card of the year so far, featuring numerous mouthwatering matchups.

The upcoming pay-per-view has two title fights atop the bill and the undercard is loaded with entertaining matchups from top to bottom. There'll be tons of competition for post-fight bonuses, and as such, we thought we'd rank the most explosive fights on the card.

On that note, here are five frontrunners for Fight of the Night at UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane.

#5. Julian Marquez vs. Marc-Andre Barriault

There are quite a few explosive matchups on the preliminary card at UFC 285. The middleweight clash between Julian Marquez and Marc-Andre Barriault is the most likely source of fireworks to look forward to in the prelims, and isn't likely to go the distance either.

While both Marc-Andre Barriault and Julian Marquez are quite far off breaking into the middleweight top 15, they are among the most entertaining fighters in the division.

All of Marquez's career wins have come via stoppages, with six knockouts and three submissions to his name. His all-action approach has seen him come away with multiple post-fight bonuses previously, and on more than one occasion he's rallied from losing situations to win fights.

Canada's Barriault is also no stranger to all-out barnburners. Like Marquez, he too largely relies on his striking, with nine knockouts on his professional record. This bout could turn out to be quite messy as both fighters tend to gas out, so while it may not be the most technical bout at UFC 285, it'll certainly be memorable.

#4. Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane – UFC 285 main event

The UFC 285 pay-per-view headliner pits former light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones against Ciryl Gane, with the undisputed heavyweight title on the line. While this is expectedly the most anticipated fight on the card, the chances of it winning Fight of the Night honors aren't great.

However this fight plays out, it's hard to imagine it being a back-and-forth affair. Jon Jones has often used his renowned fight IQ to slow down the pace of a fight to his advantage, which has resulted in some lackluster bouts, all of which came in the second half of his light heavyweight run.

Meanwhile, Ciryl Gane's evasive style often frustrates his opponents, many of whom get stuck outside striking range on the receiving end of the Frenchman's kicks. 'Bon Gamin's constant movement might call for a slow-paced tactical approach from Jones.

What could see this fight earn a bonus is the fact that neither fighter has devastating one-punch knockout power. Jones will have to be relentless with his offensive wrestling, while Gane will need to sprawl-and-brawl if he is to emerge victorious.

It's a fascinating matchup, and if it doesn't turn out to be one-sided either way, we're in for an incredible fight.

#3. Geoff Neal vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov

Apart from the two title fights atop the card, all eyes will be on the up-and-coming prospects set to feature in this weekend's pay-per-view. Shavkat Rakhmonov has slowly but surely grown his stock over the last year or so and the unbeaten Kazakh will be put to the test against Geoff Neal, who is certainly a worthy adversary.

Shavkat Rakhmonov boasts a stellar 16-0 record and 100% finish rate, with eight submissions and just as many knockouts under his belt. His dominant performance against perennial contender Neil Magny last year saw him break into the welterweight top 10 and he can further ascend the ranks with a win on Saturday.

However, it won't come easy as Geoff Neal is as good as they come. The hard-hitting American has grown from strength to strength since signing with the UFC in 2018 and has solidified his place among the cream of the crop at 170 pounds.

In the striking department, both Rakhmonov and Neal are quite evenly matched, with the former being the better kicker and the latter clearly the cleaner puncher, befitting the 'Handz of Steel' moniker. On the mat, Rakhmonov holds a distinct advantage, but Neal's underrated takedown defense could pose problems for the Kazakh.

Neal has the tools to push Rakhmonov to the limit and potentially hand him his first loss. On the flipside, another dominant showing from 'Nomad', especially another finish, will serve as a real statement of intent.

#2. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso – UFC 285 co-main event

Valentina Shevchenko has looked near-unstoppable since winning the UFC women's flyweight title back in 2018. She has already racked up seven title defenses and will look to add another ruby to her belt when she takes on a game challenger in Alexa Grasso in the UFC 285 co-headliner.

Valentina Shevchenko's first six title defenses were dominant. However, her last fight, a narrow decision win over Taila Santos in Singapore last year, exposed quite a few holes in the UFC flyweight queen's game, which likely inspired the rest of the contenders.

Alexa Grasso might not have the grappling prowess of Santos to trouble Shevchenko, but certainly has the patented Mexican heart and grit to give the champion a competitive fight. Grasso possesses crisp boxing and will have to constantly pressure 'Bullet' with forward movement and combinations.

This one could come down to Grasso's durability. If she manages to stifle Shevchenko on the feet and avoids the champion's trips and throws, we could have a fiery fight on our hands. However, another one-sided Shevchenko masterclass is certainly plausible as well.

#1. Mateusz Gamrot vs. Jalin Turner

Possibly the most evenly matched fight on the UFC 285 undercard is the lightweight scrap between Jalin Turner and Mateusz Gamrot, which isn't getting the attention it deserves. Both fighters are among the best rising 155-pounders in the world and this matchup has all the makings of an absolute barnburner.

Jalin Turner is a lethal finisher, with all of his career wins coming via stoppages. 'The Tarantula' is currently riding a five-fight win streak, having finished all five opponents inside two rounds. Still just 27, Turner is exceptional for his age, but will face the toughest test of his career in Mateusz Gamrot.

With 21 wins on his record, Gamrot is far more experienced than Turner. The Polish wrestling phenom is a menace on the mat and has taken down almost every fighter he's faced. The only blemishes on his record are narrow decisions against Guram Kutateladze and Beneil Dariush, a testament to his durability.

If Turner can replicate what Dariush did last year, nullify Gamrot's takedowns and force him into a striking battle, he certainly has the edge. Meanwhile, 'Gamer' could grind out a wrestling-heavy decision win as well, but should be wary of Turner's submission offense.

Either way, you don't want to miss this one.