Back-to-back UFC PPVs have now seen monumental shake-ups, with a Jon Jones injury causing significant change to the UFC 295 main and co-main event. The UFC 295 main event was scheduled to feature Jones defending his UFC Heavyweight Championship for the first time against arguably the greatest Heavyweight of all time and former Champion Stipe Miocic.
Following an injury to Jones, the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira has been promoted to the main event, with a Heavyweight interim title fight between Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall announced for the new UFC 295 co-main event.
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Find all the details on the UFC 295 shake-up below.
Why is Jon Jones out of UFC 295?
Dana White announced the changes to UFC 295 today across social media in his now-expected breaking news format. In the video, Jones can be seen in a wrestling exchange with a sparring partner, which results in him suffering a torn pec. Jones pulled out of the exchange, looking clearly hurt with an issue he knew was severe.
Dana also revealed in his news announcement that Jones will need serious surgery, forcing him onto the sidelines for an estimated eight months. After years of inactivity, it was hoped that Jones would remain active at Heavyweight following his Championship win earlier this year. Unfortunately, he will now end up being out of the Octagon for over a year the next time he steps back into it. And that’s if he is even able to come back from the injury at all.
The logical next question after hearing this news is, what will happen with Miocic? In a somewhat surprising move, Miocic has seemingly opted to remove himself from the event entirely and not fight for a potential interim title. Legacy fights are clearly the only thing motivating him to continue at this stage of his career. The UFC is expected to attempt to rebook the fight for 2024 International Fight Week next July.
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Prochazka vs. Pereira Promoted To Main Event, Pavlovich vs. Apsinall Co-Main Event
The original UFC 294 co-main event was set to feature a vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship title bout between former Light Heavyweight Champ Jiri Prochazka and former UFC Middleweight Champ Alex Pereira. They now get to headline the massive UFC 295 PPV in the historic Madison Square Garden. While the title is currently held by Jamahal Hill, due to a long-term injury, he will vacate the belt once the bell rings for the new UFC 295 main event.
The new UFC 295 co-main event features an interim UFC Heavyweight Championship title bout between powerful knockout artist Sergei Pavlovich and the highly-skilled Englishman Tom Aspinall. The two men step into the fight on just over two weeks’ notice, fighting for a UFC title for the first time in their UFC careers. Pavlovich was already set to be the official backup for the undisputed title fight.
Both men have finished all their UFC victories and only have a single loss on their UFC records. Pavlovich is riding a six-fight first-round knockout streak, with wins over Curtis Blaydes, Tai Tuivasa and Derrick Lewis. Aspinall returned from the only loss of his career, a freak knee injury 15 seconds into his fight against Curtis Blaydes, in July and scored a first-round knockout of Marcin Tybura.
Despite the circumstances, the fight is one of the best stylistic matchups that could be made in the sport today. Pavlovich is considered possibly the hardest hitter of all time, and Aspinall is arguably one of the most skilled Heavyweights ever. UFC 295 is still set to be an event for the ages.
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