Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane odds, predictions, start time, card: MMA insider makes UFC 285 picks, best bets

For the first time in more than three years, Jon Jones will compete in mixed martial arts Saturday in the main event of UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane in a heavyweight title fight against top-ranked contender Ciryl Gane. Their five-round battle tops the main UFC 285 fight card (10 p.m. ET) from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Jones ruled the light heavyweight division for nearly a decade, but took an indefinite hiatus following an air-tight decision over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020. In the meantime, Gane (11-1) has emerged as one of the most dangerous heavyweight prospects in recent memory, and has already held the interim belt for a short stretch. 

Jones is a -170 favorite (risk $170 to win $100), while Gane comes back at +145 in the latest UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane odds from Caesars Sportsbook. In the co-main event, women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (-600) makes her eighth title defense when she meets Alexa Grasso (+450). Before locking in any UFC 285 picks, make sure you check out the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine analyst Daniel Vithlani.  

Vithlani is a highly analytical UFC bettor who profited more than $6,200 for $100 bettors in 2022. This includes a documented 24-14 record on his well-respected, two-leg parlays. Every pick was documented on his public Instagram account.

From breaking down film and following fighters and their camps closely, to tracking sharp action and betting market signals, Vithlani covers the breadth of the MMA betting landscape top to bottom. He also trains amateur boxers and speaks regularly with MMA fighters to understand the sport's nuances. 

In his SportsLine debut at UFC 283 in January, Vithlani swept the main card and his 5-0 mark included advising SportsLine members to back Jamahal Hill (-125) over Glover Teixeira (+105) for the vacant light heavyweight title in the main event. Anyone who has followed him has seen massive returns. 

Now, with UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane in sight, Vithlani has scoured the fight card top to bottom for value and released his top MMA picks. You can only see who to back at SportsLine.

UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane preview

Jones, who has had his share of trouble outside of the cage, has long been one of the sport's most polarizing figures. But nearly every analyst and ardent MMA observer agrees he belongs on the short list as among the greatest of all time, and he occupies the top spot for the majority of MMA historians. Others in the conversation include former welterweight champion Georges St.-Pierre and former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired with an undefeated record in 2020. 

Jones (26-1-1) saw his only professional defeat come by disqualification, though close decisions against Reyes and Thiago Santos in his last two appearances had some observers suggesting he had either lost his edge or the competition had evolved, or some combination.  

The 35-year-old New York native announced he was vacating the light heavyweight division to focus on a move to heavyweight with the goal of becoming a two-division champion. He reportedly coveted a fight with former champion Francis Ngannou, but negotiations fell apart because the fighters couldn't come to terms with timing and both were unhappy with the purse offers from the UFC. Ngannou has since left the UFC and is now a free agent.

In his last UFC appearance, Ngannou overcame an early two-round deficit and used his wrestling to earn a decision win over Gane (11-1), handing the French fighter his first  professional defeat. Gane responded with a third-round knockout of Tai Tuivasa in September of last year. 

Coincidentally, Gane has often been compared to Jones because of his athleticism, versatility and mastery of multiple disciplines. When Jones announced he was ready to return, the UFC immediately matched him against Gane to compete for the vacant title. You can see who Vithlani is backing at SportsLine.

Top UFC 285 picks

We'll share one of Vithlani's UFC 285 selections here: He is siding with Dricus Du Plessis (-240) to earn a victory against Derek Brunson (+200) in a matchup of middleweight contenders on the preliminary card.  

Du Plessis (18-2) is a straight-ahead brawler who has earned recognition for starting his UFC career with four consecutive victories, with three by stoppage. The 29-year-old South African submitted Darren Till in the third round of their December fight. 

Brunson (23-8) is a 10-year UFC veteran who has spent most of his career in the top-rankings, though he has never fought for the title. The 39-year-old wrestling specialist saw a five-fight win streak come to a halt against Jared Cannonier last February. 

"On the feet, Du Plessis will have the clear advantage as the more powerful and explosive striker. If Brunson takes damage early on, I see the fight going south for him quickly," Vithlani told SportsLine. You can see more picks at SportsLine.

How to make UFC 285 picks

Vithlani also has strong picks for Jones vs. Gane and other bouts on the UFC 285 card. He's also backing a fighter who "is an absolute technician" to emerge with a dominant victory. Those picks are only available at SportsLine. 

UFC 285 odds, fight card

See full UFC 285 picks, predictions, best bets here.Jon Jones (-170) vs. Ciryl Gane (+145)Valentina Shevchenko (-600) vs. Alexa Grasso (+450)Shavkat Rakhmonov (-500) vs. Geoff Neal (+380)Mateusz Gamrot (-210) vs. Jalin Turner (+175)Bo Nickal (-1,700) vs. Jamie Pickett (+950)Dricus Du Plessis (-240) vs. Derek Brunson (+200)Amanda Ribas (-120) vs. Viviane Araujo (+100)Marc-Andre Barriault (-145) vs. Julian Marquez (+125)Cameron Saaiman (-275) vs. Mana Martinez (+225)Tabatha Ricci (-265) vs. Jessica Penne (+225)Farid Basharat (-480) vs. Da'Mon Blackshear (+360)Cody Garbrandt (-165) vs. Trevin Jones (+145)

Ian Garry (-550) vs. Kenan Song (+400)