Canadian middlweight Barriault to fight on high-profile UFC 285 card

Canadian middleweight Marc-Andre (Power Bar) Barriault has been matched against Julian (The Cuban Missile Crisis) Marquez on the high-profile UFC 285 fight card that features a heavyweight title fight between Jon (Bones) Jones and France's Cyril (Bon Gamin) Gane.

The show is scheduled for March 4 in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena.

Jones, a former UFC light-heavyweight champion, and Gane, a former UFC interim heavyweight title-holder, are meeting to decide who fills the championship void left by Francis (The Predator) Ngannou, who opted not to return to the promotion after his contract expired.

Jones (26-1-0 with one no contest) returns to action for the first time since February 2020.

The 35-year-old Jones holds UFC records for title fight wins (14), light heavyweight wins (20) and the longest light-heavyweight win streak (13). But his career has been interrupted by run-ins with the law and failed drug tests.

The 32-year-old Gane (11-1-0) holds knockout wins over Tai (Bam Bam) Tuivasa, Derrick (The Black Beast) Lewis and former UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos. Gane also won a decision over Canadian Tanner (Bulldozer) Boser in December 2019.

Gane's lone loss was by decision to Ngannou at UFC 270 in January 2022. Sidelined by injury, Ngannou has not fought since.

Barriault (14-6-0 with one no contest) was submitted by American Anthony (Fluffy) Hernandez last time out in September. Barriault was outgrappled by Hernandez, who took him down eight times before finishing him off with an arm-triangle choke in the third round.

Barriault, a native of Gatineau. Que., now living in South Florida, lost his first three UFC bouts before defeating Poland's Oskar Piechota in June 2020, a verdict later turned into a no contest after the Canadian failed a drug test.

After serving his nine-month suspension, he won three of his next four fights before running into Hernandez.

Marquez (9-3-O) was knocked out in the first round by Brazil's Gregory Rodrigues in June, snapping a two-fight win streak. Fighting out of Kansas City, Marquez is 3-2-0 in the UFC after earning his contract with a win on Dana White's Contender Series in August 2017.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2023.