MMA: Jon Jones to fight for UFC heavyweight title

Jan. 14—Albuquerque resident and longtime former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones will face France's Cyril Gane for that organization's heavyweight title on March 24.

UFC President Dana White confirmed the widely reported story Saturday night. Jones-Gane will be the main event of UFC 285 at T-Mobile Arena.

Jones (26-1, one no contest) has not fought since February 8, 2020, when he defeated Dominick Reyes by close but unanimous decision in the 11th successful defense of his light heavyweight title. Later, he renounced the light heavyweight belt and declared his intention to campaign as a heavyweight.

The heavyweight title was vacated when champion Frances N'Gannou, long at odds with White, was released by the UFC. Gane (11-1) lost to N'Gannou by unanimous decision in a bid for the title in January 2022.

Since defeating Reyes in Houston, Jones was banned from training at Albuquerque's Jackson-Wink MMA by J-W co-owner Mike Winkeljohn after Jones' September 2021 arrest in Las Vegas on domestic-violence charges. Jones pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and served no jail time as a result.

Jones will works with Jackson-Wink co-owner Greg Jackson and other members of the J-W team.

MORE MMA: In Las Vegas, Nevada. Albuquerque MMA featherweight Dan Argueta (9-1) defeated Nick Aguirre (7-1) by unanimous decision on a UFC Fight Night card at UFC Apex.

All three judges scored the fight 30-27 for Argueta, who trains at Jackson-Wink. ... In Prior Lake, Minnesota, Albuquerque welterweight Jalin Fuller (7-2) defeated Scott Writz (6-3) by first-round submission (high elbow guillotine choke) Friday on an LFA card. Fuller trains at Duke City MMA.