UFC 295 Shakeup: Jon Jones Out, Interim Title On The Line

Shakeup in UFC 295 as Jones Withdraws, Pavlovich and Aspinall Vie for Interim Heavyweight Title

In a dramatic twist, UFC 295 sees a major shakeup as Jon Jones bows out of the much-anticipated heavyweight championship due to a severe injury, setting the stage for Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall to clash for the interim title.

Late Tuesday, the world of mixed martial arts was rocked by Dana White’s announcement that heavyweight champ Jon Jones suffered a debilitating torn pectoral muscle during training, ruling him out of the UFC 295 showdown against Stipe Miocic. The injury, demanding surgery, sidelines Jones for eight months, leaving a gaping hole in the November 11 event at Madison Square Garden.

“Jon Jones was training last night, got injured; he was wrestling and he tore the tendon that connects your pec to the bone, off the bone,” White revealed in a distressing social media update. “[Out] eight months, going to need surgery. He’s out.”

This last-minute withdrawal has thrust Sergei Pavlovich into the limelight, putting him head-to-head with Tom Aspinall for the interim heavyweight crown. Pavlovich, a formidable contender on a six-fight winning spree, has left fans awestruck with first-round knockouts, making a statement with his victories over MMA notables like Curtis Blaydes and Tai Tuivasa.

On the flip side, Aspinall is making waves since his comeback from a 2022 knee mishap, maintaining an impeccable promotional finishing rate. His recent 73-second triumph over Marcin Tybura underscores his readiness to battle for the top spot.

With Jones and Miocic out, the vacant light heavyweight title fight escalates, featuring Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira as the new main event, adding another layer of excitement to the UFC 295 card. Both fighters are gearing up for what could be a career-defining face-off, heightening the stakes for them and the fans.

Despite the unforeseen changes, UFC 295 retains its allure with a stacked lineup, including Jessica Andrade vs. Mackenzie Dern, and Diego Lopes vs. Pat Sabatini, promising a night of high-octane MMA action.

While the anticipation for Jones vs. Miocic has undeniably been dampened, the emergence of Pavlovich vs. Aspinall and Prochazka vs. Pereira brings fresh fervor, ensuring UFC 295 remains a can’t-miss spectacle for fight aficionados worldwide.

As the fighters prepare and strategies are drawn, all eyes are now on Pavlovich and Aspinall, with the MMA community eager to witness who seizes the interim heavyweight glory. And as for Jon Jones, fans are wishing him a speedy recovery, hoping to see the star back in the octagon soon.

With the changes, the UFC 295 lineup includes:

Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka – for vacant light heavyweight title
Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall – for interim heavyweight title
Jessica Andrade vs. Mackenzie Dern
Diego Lopes vs. Pat Sabatini
Matt Frevola vs. Benoit Saint Denis
Kevin Borjas vs. Joshua Van
Stephen Erceg vs. Matt Schnell
Loopy Godinez vs. Tabatha Ricci
Jared Gordon vs. Mark Madsen
Nurullo Aliev vs. Mateusz Rebecki
Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Nazim Sadykhov
Dennis Buzukja vs. Jamall Emmers
John Castaneda vs. Kyung Ho Kang

BREAKING NEWS…………… Sergei Pavlovich vs Tom Aspinall for the Interim Heavyweight Championship. Main Event is Jiri Prochazka vs Alex Pereira. #UFC295 is LIVE at MSG on ESPN+ PPV pic.twitter.com/SaPAwpyHi2

— danawhite (@danawhite) October 25, 2023