Jon Jones will return to the Octagon for the primary time in three years, whereas now-former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has turn out to be a free agent, UFC president Dana White has introduced.

Jones is scheduled to battle Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight championship at UFC 285 on March 5 (AEDT), whereas White introduced the UFC was unable to come back to phrases with Ngannou on a brand new contract.

White mentioned the deal provided to Ngannou would’ve made the 36-year-old the “highest-paid heavyweight in the history of the company”.

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“I’ve told you guys this before, if you don’t want to be here, you don’t have to be,” White mentioned on Sunday.

“I think Francis is in a place right now where he doesn’t want to take a lot of risk. He feels like he’s in a good position where he could fight lesser opponents and make more money.

“We’re going to let him do that, release him from his contract and give up our right to match.”

Jones, in line with White, has signed an eight-fight take care of the UFC.

The 35-year-old has been absent since defending his mild heavyweight title with a win over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020.

Jones, one of many best fighters within the sport’s historical past, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor home battery violence in September 2021, but it surely was finally dropped.

He holds a 20-1 document within the UFC, together with his sole loss coming through disqualification.

Gane’s final outing noticed him knock out Tai Tuivasa at UFC Fight Night 209 in September, together with his solely loss coming to Ngannou.