Kenang Song will be fighting on one of the biggest UFC cards of the year against one of the most touted prospects in the welterweight division. The Chinese fighter is booked to face Ian Garry at the T-Mobile Arena on March 4th.
UFC 285 features the return of Jon Jones who fights for the vacant heavyweight belt. Earlier in the evening Song (19-6) will be looking to bounce back from the second defeat of his UFC career.
The Chinese fighter signed for the UFC in 2017 and has won four out of his six fights for the promotion. He is coming off a stoppage loss to Max Griffin at UFC Vegas 22.
Garry (10-0) has won three fights out of three for the UFC. Conor McGregor is a big fan of the Irishman who could potentially crack the top 15 with a win in Las Vegas.
Breaking the debutant's curse!
Ian Garry scores the finish to start his UFC career! #UFC268 pic.twitter.com/Dwa46Axrno
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) November 6, 2021
Long awaited
In the main event Jon Jones (26-1-0-1) makes his comeback. The former light heavyweight champion is moving up to heavyweight to challenge Cyril Gane (11-1) for the vacant heavyweight title.
Jones has not fought since 2020 after some well publicized issues away from the octagon. He will be fighting at heavyweight for the first time having spent virtually his entire career competing at 205lbs.
Gane’s sole loss came in a heavyweight title fight against Francis Ngannou. The latter was unable to come to terms on a new UFC contract and has vacated the title.
𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕻𝖗𝖊𝖉𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 stakes his claim to the throne!
🏆@Francis_Ngannou goes full five rounds with Ciryl Gane to remain the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion! #UFC270 pic.twitter.com/NGG0iMJhTi
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) January 23, 2022
UFC debut
Farid Basharat looks set to make his UFC debut on one of the biggest cards of the year. The Afghan has been booked to face Da’Mon Blackshear at the T-Mobile Arena on March 4th.
Basharat (9-0) came to prominence after winning on Dana White’s Contender Series and was subsequently signed by the UFC. His first fight inside the octagon will be on a pay per view event at UFC 285.
His brother, Javid Basharat, also fights for the UFC and is undefeated. They were both born in Afghanistan and came to England as refugees before going on to become successful mixed martial artists.
He has been booked to face Blackshear (12-4-1) who made his UFC debut in August. The American fought to a majority draw with Youssef Zalal after taking that contest at very short notice.
Prior to that he was the reigning CFFC bantamweight champion and had also challenged unsuccessfully for the Titan FC 135lbs strap. The American wrestled in high school and eight of his wins have come by way of some sort of choke.
UFC 285, Las Vegas, March 4th
Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane (Heavyweight)
Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Alexa Grasso (Flyweight)
Jalin Turner vs. Dan Hooker (Lightweight)
Geoff Neal vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov (Welterweight)
Bo Nickal vs. Jamie Pickett (Middleweight)
Derek Brunson vs. Dricus du Plessis (Middleweight)
Ian Garry vs. Song Kenan (Welterweight)
Cody Garbrandt vs. Julio Arce (Bantamweight)
Viviane Araújo vs. Amanda Ribas (Flyweight)
Julian Marquez vs. Marc-André Barriault (Middleweight)
Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci (Strawweight)
Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Farid Basharat (Bantamweight)
Kamuela Kirk vs. Esteban Ribovics (Lightweight)
