MMA News Roundup: UFC used a special contract clause to secure Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane, Andrew Tate's prison visitation details revealed, Valentina Shevchenko's return date confirmed
Welcome to today's edition of Sportskeeda's daily MMA News Roundup, where we present the biggest UFC updates and other stories from the world of mixed martial arts.
In today's issue, we talk about Ciryl Gane's contract for the Jon Jones fight, Valentina Shevchenko's UFC return, and more.
#3. UFC put in a unique clause in Ciryl Gane's contract for the Jon Jones fight
The UFC wanted Jon Jones to have a title fight on his return so badly that they placed a unique clause in Ciryl Gane's contract. According to Ariel Helwani, the Frenchman's new UFC deal had an extra financial incentive for him to accept a fight against 'Bones'. The promotion possibly deemed it wise to do so because of their fighter pay-related skirmishes with former champion Francis Ngannou.
Helwani said on The MMA Hour:
"In the contract, it states if you fight Jon Jones, much like in many contracts it states [that] if you fight for the belt, you'll get paid X. In his contract, he has something that states if you fight Jon Jones, you'll get paid X..."
Here's the video:
Ariel Helwani on Ciryl Gane contract.
#TheMMAHour https://t.co/jYggbZGZtf
This hidden detail of Gane's contract shows how much the promotion values Jones as one of the faces of the company, especially with former heavyweight champion Ngannou exiting in controversial fashion.
#2. Andrew Tate reveals who will be allowed to visit him in jail
Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested last month as part of an investigation into human trafficking and other sex-related allegations. Tate has not shown any signs of guilt or remorse ever since and has been blaming "the Matrix" for his situation.
In a recent tweet, he revealed that he had submitted his jail visitation application. Apart from his lawyer and four family members, Twitch streamer and YouTuber Adin Ross is on the list, per Tate's tweet.
I've just filled in my visitation form.
Besides my lawyer, I'm allowed 5 visitors,
4 are family members and the 5th is @adinross
Ross and Tate have been friends for a while now and have collaborated to make videos together. Ross said in a recent interview that Tate's legal battles were affecting him as a friend as well.
#1. Valentina Shevchenko to defend title against Alexa Grasso
After a razor-thin win over Taila Santos in her last outing, Valentina Shevchenko will put her flyweight belt on the line for the eighth time. She will face Alexa Grasso at UFC 285 on March 4, 2023. The news was first reported by Carlos Contreras Legaspi of ESPN Deportes.
Grasso is currently ranked No.4 in the division and will be the first Mexican-born female fighter to compete for a UFC title. She moved up to 125 pounds in 2020 and has amassed an undefeated streak in the weight class, defeating Ji Yeon Kim, Maycee Barber, Joanne Wood, and Viviane Araujo.