Dana White validates Ciryl Gane's spot as no.1 heavyweight going into Jon Jones fight, says Francis Ngannou fight was 'razor thin'
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is finally making his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. At the event, the duo will contest for the vacant heavyweight title.
The promotion's president Dana White is convinced that the No.1 contender Gane is the most deserving candidate for the title fight against 'Bones'.
Speaking to the media at ceremonial weigh-ins for the event, White validated the Frenchman's No.1 contender status, reasoning that his fight with former champion Francis Ngannou was "razor thin":
"Yeah, well he's the No. 1 guy in the world, you know, and Francis didn't take the fight with Jon. Ciryl is the No.1 guy in the world. That fight was razor thin, between those two. So Jon is coming in and fighting the absolute best heavyweight."
Catch Dana White's comments below:
'Bon Gamin' enjoyed tremendous success on the feet early in his UFC 270 title clash against Ngannou. However, the 32-year-old's fortunes turned sour as Ngannou employed a wrestling-heavy approach in the later rounds and ultimately secured a unanimous decision win.
As per the fight odds at Betting Insider Journal, 'Bones' is a -165 favorite for the match-up against Gane (+135 underdog). The event will mark Jones' 16th title fight under the American promotion, while 'Bon Gamin' will be contesting for the title for the third time [including interim title bouts] in the UFC.
Fight fans in the United States can catch the pay-per-view card live on ESPN + on Saturday, March 4 at 10 PM ET.
Jon Jones states that he has "high expectations" unlike Ciryl Gane
Speaking to ESPN MMA's Brett Okamoto during the ceremonial weigh-ins for UFC 285, Jon Jones claimed that, unlike Ciryl Gane, he always has high expectations going into a fight.
The former light heavyweight champion feels that the Frenchman has a "non-pressure" way of approaching fights. According to 'Bones', such a mindset sets oneself up for failure.
He said:
"I have got a sense of who he is and what he is thinking. His idea is, you know if I win, I hope to win, It's a non-pressure way of being. It sets yourself up for failure. It's like, hey, if I l lost, I didn't really know if I was going to win or lose. It's the easier way out."
Jon Jones added:
"Me, I have high expectations. I have a high standard. Me and my team have a high standard. It's when we win, that's the mindset of a winner."
Catch Jon Jones' comments below: