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Jon Jones-Ciryl Gane title bout set; UFC releases Ngannou

Jon Jones, arguably the greatest fighter of all time, will fight Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight championship at UFC 285 on March 4, UFC president Dana White said Saturday.

The announcement came after the UFC was unable to come to terms with its now former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

It will mark Jones' first appearance in the Octagon since February 2020, when he defended his light heavyweight title against Dominick Reyes. Jones vacated his belt shortly after that fight and immediately teased a pending move up to heavyweight.

The UFC and Ngannou negotiated a new contract for the better part of two years but were ultimately unable to come to a deal.