5 prospects to watch out for at UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane

UFC 285 is set to go down at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, this Saturday. The upcoming pay-per-view is stacked from top-to-bottom, featuring numerous explosive matchups and up-and-coming prospects.

While all eyes are on the pay-per-view heavyweight headliner between UFC superstar Jon Jones and former interim champion Ciryl Gane, the card has a litany of rising prospects, some of whom boast genuine championship potential.

On that note, here are five prospects to watch out for at UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane.

#5. Ian Garry

Ian Garry has enjoyed a solid start to his UFC career and will be eager to keep it going when he returns to action at the upcoming pay-per-view. The undefeated Irish welterweight will take on China's Song Kenan on the preliminary card at UFC 285 in search of his 11th professional win.

After a scorching run at UK-based MMA promotion Cage Warriors between 2019 and 2021, Ian Garry signed with the UFC. 'The Future' delivered the goods in his promotional debut, knocking out Jordan Williams in the first round.

Garry followed it up with two decision wins against Darian Weeks and Gabriel Green, and will look to uphold his momentum going into his bout with Song Kenan this weekend. Kenan is vastly more experienced than the Irishman and possesses a well-rounded skillset, making this a good test for Garry.

Still just 25, Garry has a long way to go in his UFC career. Considering his performances so far, the former Cage Warriors welterweight champion could get a shot at a ranked opponent if he impresses this weekend.

#4. Dricus du Plessis

Another fighter who has looked sensational since signing with the UFC is the face of South African MMA – Dricus du Plessis. 'Stillknocks' has already racked up four wins inside the octagon, including three finishes, which has seen him break into the middleweight top 10.

A win this weekend will likely see du Plessis enter the top tier of the division as he is set to take on No.5-ranked Derek Brunson.

Dricus du Plessis' last win, a submission victory over former title challenger Darren Till, served as a real statement of intent. The former EFC two-division champion could find himself in the title mix if he maintains his current form, but Derek Brunson will be looking to spoil the party.

A perennial contender in the middleweight division, Brunson has fought the who's who at 185 pounds for over a decade. He could've fought for the title had he overcome Jared Cannonier at UFC 271 last year, but a TKO loss to 'Tha Killa Gorilla' saw his championship aspirations take a hit.

This is a pretty good matchup for du Plessis, who has a more diverse arsenal than Brunson. With a shot at the middleweight championship so tantalizingly close, 'Stillknocks' will be itching to make another big statement.

#3. Jalin Turner

Jalin Turner is an anomaly. The spider-loving, soft-spoken American lightweight has slowly emerged as a divisional dark horse at 155 pounds. His potential will be put to the test this weekend when he takes on another highly touted lightweight, Mateusz Gamrot, on the main card at UFC 285.

This bout is among the best stylistic matchups at the upcoming pay-per-view and should make for terrific viewing.

After a scintillating performance in Dana White's Contender Series back in 2018, Jalin Turner joined the UFC as a 22-year-old. After a couple of early setbacks, Turner committed to the lightweight division and has since racked up five stunning wins on the bounce, finishing every opponent along the way.

'The Tarantula' boasts a 100% finish rate, making him one of the most lethal fighters in the already-stacked lightweight division. However, he will face a tall task when he locks horns with Mateusz Gamrot, who is the betting favorite heading into their fight.

Gamrot is one of the best wrestlers in the division, and his route to victory is clear. The Polish fighter notably took this fight on relatively short notice, and while that could impact his performance on the night, the stylistic matchup definitely favors him.

If Turner pulls off the upset, his stock will undoubtedly reach new heights and he could find himself in the title picture very soon. If he finishes Gamrot, who has never been stopped before, the sky's the limit for the 27-year-old prospect.

#2. Bo Nickal – UFC debutant

Our next entry hasn't even graced the UFC octagon as of yet, which is a testament to the hype surrounding him. Bo Nickal will make his highly anticipated UFC debut at the upcoming pay-per-view when he takes on Jamie Pickett in the main card opener and will be looking to add to his collection of quick finishes.

A three-time NCAA national champion, Bo Nickal is among the most credentialled wrestlers to ever join the UFC. The collegiate wrestling standout made his professional MMA debut at Jorge Masvidal's iKon FC in June last year, winning via knockout in just 33 seconds, showing off his striking ability.

Nickal subsequently racked up two lightning quick submission wins in Dana White's Contender Series to earn a contract and will finally make his full promotional debut this weekend. He has been dealt a somewhat favorable matchup in Jamie Pickett and is rightfully a humongous betting favorite.

Nickal has made no secret of his desire to become the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. His wrestling accolades alone make him a dangerous prospect, but as he continues to improve his stand-up game, he will emerge as a force to be reckoned with in the upper echelons of the division very soon.

#1. Shavkat Rakhmonov

Arguably the most interesting prospect set to compete at UFC 285 is none other than Shavkat Rakhmonov. Having finished every opponent he has faced thus far, 'Nomad' is being touted as a future champion by many and has even drawn comparisons to fellow undefeated star Khamzat Chimaev.

The Kazakh phenom has looked unstoppable so far and will be looking to climb the welterweight ranks when he takes on Geoff Neal on Saturday.

Shavkat Rakhmonov's record stands at 16-0, comprising eight knockouts and just as many submissions. While his first three wins in the UFC came against unranked welterweights, his fourth was against long-time 170-pound gatekeeper Neil Magny.

His dominant showing against Magny showcased just how good Rakhmonov is. He doesn't appear to have any holes in his game, something Geoff Neal will be looking to disprove when they square off. Neal is coming off a brutal knockout win over Vicente Luque, the best performance of his career, so both fighters are at the height of their powers heading into their clash.

Neal is a tough matchup for anyone. If Rakhmonov produces another flawless victory, it's hard to imagine him losing to any of the top-ranked welterweights, or even the current champion. The future is certainly bright for Kazakhstan's 'Nomad'.