Israel Adesanya has backed Cyril Gane to beat long-term nemesis Jon Jones in his UFC 285 comeback fight.
UFC superstar Jones will return to the octagon for the first time since 2020 when he makes a switch to the heavyweight division. There will be immediate high stakes for 'Bones' who is looking to become a two-weight champion against a lively contender who was narrowly edged by Francis Ngannou who recently vacated his title.
Jones will likely go into the contest as the favourite given his pedigree in the sport which has seen him beaten just once by disqualification. However 'The Last Stylebender' has suggested Gane will have the edge when the pair do battle, but he is excited to see an intriguing prospect in action.
“If you want to wake up for a guy in the morning, this is the guy,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel when assessing the heavyweight encounter. “Ciryl Gane, ‘Bon Gamin,’ he’s game. This is a guy to wake up for. I think cause of activity, to be honest, and who he is, I’m gonna go Ciryl, but I won’t be surprised if ‘Bones’ wins.
“I can’t front, this is that fight. Jones out for three years, Gane’s been active he’s a ‘new’ breed of heavyweight. He’s light on his feet, very, very mixed striking, good grappling. People forget just cause Francis took him down, but I think that’s the element of surprise as well. Francis is strong as f*** and knows how to wrestle. Gane can grapple, man.
"The way he fights as a heavyweight, he’s so light. He does the oblique kick well, great footwork, good submissions so far. Real random ones, like a heel hook. Good leg kicks as well. The thing is three years, bro. Three years away from the game is a hard ask for any man just to be away from fighting for that long. There’s a few — special few — that can actually f*** off and come back and still look great, and I feel like Jon’s one of them."
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Adesanya and Jones have been notorious rivals despite now being two weight classes apart, with the pair regularly exchanging barbs on social media. However there does appear to be mutual respect for each other's fighting abilities, particularly from Jones who has been asked regularly about Adesanya in his career.
Most recently, the new heavyweight star has offered rare praise of the former champion's credentials at middleweight. "If I had to recommend, I don't like this fighter very much but I can't deny Israel Adesanya," Jones said to Complex when asked about brand deals. "Izzy is a statement maker, he is not afraid to step outside of his box when it comes to his fashion and things like that. I actually think he does have a deal with Puma, so well deserved."
