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UFC 285 takes place this weekend. While all of the spotlight is on the main event between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane, the event is a deep one overall.
With a great undercard, there are a number of fighters in action this weekend who could steal the show at UFC 285 before Jones and Gane even face off. So, with contenders in the lightweight, welterweight and middleweight divisions on offer, there’s plenty for the fans to keep an eye on this weekend.
Here are five undercard fighters who could steal the show at UFC 285.
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#5. Cody Garbrandt – former UFC bantamweight champion
One under-the-radar fighter on this weekend’s event who could well steal the show is former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt.
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It’s safe to say that ‘No Love’ hasn’t been on the best form as of late. He’s won just once in his last six bouts and is coming into this weekend on a two-fight losing skid.
However, his knockout of Raphael Assuncao in 2020 showed that he still has the speed, reflexes and insane punching power that took him to the top of the division in 2016. While his chin will never be the best, therefore, he’s still dangerous.
More importantly, for the first time in a while, Garbrandt is faced with a favorable opponent. Not only has Trevin Jones taken this bout with ‘No Love’ on late notice, but he’s also nowhere near the same level as Garbrandt’s previous foes.
In fact, he’s coming into this one on a three-fight skid and hasn’t won since 2021.
Essentially, this fight looks tailor-made for Garbrandt to bounce back with. If he can produce a knockout like the one he unleashed on Assuncao, he could definitely claim the spotlight.
#4. Dricus du Plessis – UFC middleweight
UFC 285’s preliminary card features a number of intriguing bouts, but the fighter to really watch is undoubtedly middleweight contender Dricus du Plessis. If the South African fights to his potential, he could definitely steal the show.
‘Stillknocks’ made his octagon debut back in 2020 and has won four fights since to climb into the middleweight division’s rankings at No.10.
More importantly, he’s finished three of his four opponents, including former welterweight title challenger Darren Till, who was dispatched with a face crank last December.
Du Plessis hardly has an easy out ahead of him. In the form of Derek Brunson, he’ll be faced with the trickiest opponent of his career, a fighter who can both overpower foes with his wrestling but also knock them out violently.
However, Brunson is also pushing 40, was knocked out in his last bout, and tends to fight in a reckless manner that could leave him wide open.
If du Plessis can pull off a big win here, particularly if he can stop the veteran, then not only could he steal the show this weekend, but he’ll also be seen as a legitimate title contender, too.
#3. Bo Nickal – UFC middleweight
It’s always odd to see a UFC debutant make the main card of a major pay-per-view, but this weekend, it’s understandable that the promotion wants some spotlight on Bo Nickal.
‘The Allen Assassin’ has only had three professional fights to his name thus far – two on Dana White’s Contender Series – but he stands as one of the most decorated amateur wrestlers in MMA history.
Nickal is a three-time NCAA Division I National Champion and could well have gone onto Olympic success were it not for a couple of losses to eventual gold medallist David Taylor.
In terms of MMA, he’s very unproven, of course, but he’s already shown he has the raw skills and aggression to go along with his wrestling, and that should make him a big success.
His upcoming octagon debut might not be the easiest, as opponent Jamie Pickett does have two wins in the promotion and is a solid out, but he’s also definitely beatable.
If Nickal can live up to the hype, then, especially if he stops Pickett, he could well steal the show this weekend and make it his first step to superstardom.
#2. Jalin Turner – UFC lightweight
Given the stacked nature of UFC 285, one bout that seems to be flying under the radar this weekend is the lightweight clash between Mateusz Gamrot and Jalin Turner.
In reality, that shouldn’t be the case. Both Gamrot and Turner are ranked in the top 10 at 155 pounds and could well be seen as legitimate title threats with a big win on Saturday.
Of the two, though, Turner feels like the more likely fighter to steal the show this weekend. ‘The Tarantula’ hasn’t beaten the same caliber of opponents as ‘Gamer’, but unlike Gamrot, he is a consummate finisher.
All six of his wins in the octagon have come via stoppage, and his most recent bout saw him dispatch the tough Brad Riddell with a guillotine choke.
Turner is a remarkably tall and rangy lightweight, standing at 6’3”. He’ll hope that his 6” reach advantage will give him the edge in this bout.
If he can find a way to finish Gamrot, something that no other fighter has done in the 24-fight career of ‘Gamer’, then it’ll be hard to ignore ‘The Tarantula’ any longer. It could also mean that he steals the show.
#1. Shavkat Rakhmonov – UFC welterweight
While this weekend’s undercard is an unusually stacked one, the fighter most likely to steal the show is definitely welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov. ‘Nomad’ has been considered one of the UFC’s hottest prospects for some time now, and holds an impressive record of 16-0.
2022 was a breakout year for him, as he defeated Carlston Harris and Neil Magny in impressive fashion. He has yet to go the distance in any of his professional bouts.
It’s arguable that this weekend marks his toughest test to date, though. Rakhmonov is faced with Geoff Neal, one of the hardest hitters in the 170-pound division. ‘Handz of Steel’ has defeated Vicente Luque and Santiago Ponzinibbio in his last two bouts.
However, it’s also easy to remember that Neal was dominated by both Stephen Thompson and Magny, two more technical fighters. He’ll also be up against a foe with far more height and reach.
Overall, then, Rakhmonov should have the edge here, and with the way he fights, if he does win, it’ll probably be by some kind of flashy finish.
If he can produce that, then it’ll be easy to imagine him stealing the show at UFC 285.
