Fanfare around Jon Jones return is similar to Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 2, says Amanda Ribas (Exclusive)
UFC flyweight Amanda Ribas believes that Jon Jones' UFC return against Ciryl Gane is as big a spectacle as Conor McGregor's second meeting with Dustin Poirier.
During an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA, the 29-year-old Ribas stated that the fanfare around the UFC 285 headliners like 'Bones' and Ciryl Gane makes her remember the time she fought on the Abu Dhabi card headlined by McGregor and Poirier in early 2021:
"Yes, being here in Las Vegas with the [fighters on the] card, with Jon Jones and [Ciryl] Gane and Valentina [Shevchenko] and Alexa [Grasso] is really good. The few you know [who] everybody wants to talk about. I was in the huge card, McGregor [vs. Dustin Poirier] 2 in Abu Dhabi."
She added:
"It was too much crazy, really good, and now I'm having this feeling again, it's crazy. I [have seen] Jon Jones just on television, just his fights. So it's really nice to meet him."
Catch Amanda Ribas' comments below:
Ribas is set to take on fellow flyweight Viviane Araujo on the preliminary card at UFC 285.
Viviane Araújo will fight Amanda Ribas at #UFC285 on March 4th. (first rep. @damadeferromma) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2023 https://t.co/Z70EGHQepz
The Brazilian is 10-3 as a professional. In her last fight, she succumbed to a split-decision loss to Katlyn Chookagian and will be looking forward to getting back in the win column on the weekend's fight card.
Meanwhile, Araujo is also coming to the event on the back of a loss. In her most recent fight at UFC Fight Night 212, 'Vivi' suffered a unanimous decision loss to Alexa Grasso. She holds a pro record of 11-4.
Jon Jones states that his heavyweight frame has real "stopping power"
Jon Jones has packed quite a bit of size and muscle en route to his heavyweight debut, and the former light heavyweight champion is sure that he is now physically the strongest he has ever been.
During an interview with Sporting News in the lead-up to his heavyweight title fight with Ciryl Gane, the American claimed that he now possesses "real stopping power," as opposed to his light heavyweight days:
"With my physical strength, I feel it has made a huge leap you know. Before I could hit somebody as hard as I could and they wouldn't even take a step back, you know. Now I feel like I have some real stopping power."
Additionally, Jones also believes that the added size and strength are working in his favor during grappling exchanges:
"My takedowns feel very explosive. When I make up my mind that I'm getting someone to the ground, lately in my practices, I'm batting a hundred there."
Catch Jon Jones' comments below:
Watch the LIVE coverage of UFC 285: Jones vs Gane on Sony Sports Ten 2, Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi), and Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil & Telugu) channels on 5th March 2023 at 8:30 am (IST)