Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane learn the identity of opponent for first HW title defence hours before UFC 285 showdown
JON JONES and Ciryl Gane have learned the identity of their first opponent as UFC heavyweight champion.
The pair will lock horns for the vacant 265lb strap tonight in the main event of UFC 285 in Las Vegas.
Despite the pair being hours away from throwing down with one another, fans have already turned their attention to who the duo could face in their first title defence.
Curtis Blaydes, Sergei Pavlovich and former dominant heavyweight king Stipe Miocic are the names being bandied about.
And Miocic – who is considered by many to be the greatest heavyweight of all time – has claimed he’ll be the first opponent for the victor of tonight’s mammoth showdown.
When asked if he’s got the winner next, Miocic told former opponent Daniel Cormier: “They [the UFC] told me, July.
“They said it – International Fight Week. That’s what I was told, so.”
Miocic doubled down on his claim during a heavyweight panel before the ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday afternoon.
He said: “I was told that, so we’ll see.
“Hopefully, nothing is permanent until it’s written a contract with a signature, but we’ll see.”
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Miocic, 40, doesn’t have a preference over who wins the bout.
He said: “I don’t care who wins, I want winner.”
Miocic hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since his second reign as heavyweight champion came to an end in March 2021.
The part-time firefighter suffered a brutal second-round KO loss to the recently-departed Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 and was transported to the hospital shortly afterwards.
Jones is hoping to lock horns with future Hall of Famer Miocic should he get past Gane.
He told TMZ: “People consider him the greatest heavyweight of all time.
“The opportunity to compete against such a man, I’d be honoured.
“The opportunity to beat such a guy would be truly something special.”