UFC 295 Updated Fight Card Sees Interim Heavyweight Title Fight After Jon Jones Pull Out

Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 had fans excited at the prospect of seeing the clash of the two titans. Miocic was making his return to the Octagon after being on a hiatus since UFC 260. The matchup would have allowed Miocic to cement himself as the UFC heavyweight GOAT if he won. But with reports of Jones sustaining an injury while training recently being revealed, UFC 295 has undergone massive changes in the past few hours.

Fans were already put through a roller coaster recently as UFC 294 saw multiple replacements on short notice. And now UFC 295 has suffered the same fate. UFC CEO, Dana White, made a startling revelation on social media regarding changes to the card. And with Jon Jone’s injury the main concern, fans will be relieved to know that the card is still on for November 11th at Madison Square Garden!

Jon Jones out of UFC 295 as Dana White announces replacements for the card

Jon Jones moved up to heavyweight to face Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. After cementing himself as the best light-heavyweight on the planet, Jones moved up a weight class to add another accolade to his legacy. He won the fight via submission in the first round. Jones was set to face two-time UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 in a legacy-defining matchup for both men. However, with recent news of his injury, fans will be looking forward to his return instead.

Dana White revealed in an Instagram post that Jones had suffered from a torn pectoral tendon while training. He stated that the injury was severe enough to require surgery. Jones will be out for a possible 8 months while he recovers.

But with the much-awaited main event at UFC 295 now canceled, White revealed fans will be treated to another title fight in the heavyweight division! Tom Aspinall will be taking on Sergei Pavlovich for the Interim UFC heavyweight championship on November 11th.

The co-main event featuring Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka for the vacant light heavyweight title is now the new main event. Fans expect fireworks from the matchup as both Pereira and Prochazka are known for their action-filled bouts. Prochazka will be returning from a shoulder injury that forced him to vacate the belt in 2022.

With multiple changes to the card on short notice, fans will now be looking forward to how the event unfolds. And with the UFC 294 card and its multiple changes still fresh in the community’s minds, it remains to be seen if these changes are all we’ll see in the coming weeks.

UFC 295 replacements cause fans to feel deja vu with similarities to UFC 294

UFC 294 saw not one but two fighters being replaced in the main and co-main event of the evening! Islam Makhachev was originally set to face Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title. But Oliveira pulled out of the fight due to an injury sustained in training. Alexander Volkanovski then stepped up on short notice to take on Makhachev instead. The Australian was confident taking the fight, but he came up short in his quest for another title as Makhachev knocked him out in the first round.

Khamzat Chimaev was set to face off Paulo Costa in a middleweight bout in the co-main event. Both fighters had engaged in a heated feud during the build-up to the fight. The back and forth between the two had fans anticipating an exciting fight in the cage. However, it was revealed that Costa suffered from a serious arm infection that required surgery shortly before the event.

Read More: “That Hurts My Feelings Bad”- MMA Fans React to Jon Jones’ Injury Footage That Cancelled UFC 295 & Put Him Out for 8 Months

He was replaced by Kamaru Usman, former UFC welterweight champion who moved up a weight class on short notice to take on Chimaev. The fight ended in a unanimous decision victory for Chimaev despite an impressive effort from Usman.

Dana White had stated before the fight that the matchup would have title implications at middleweight for both men. And fans will now wait to see if Chimaev challenges Sean Strickland, the middleweight champion for his title next. 

Do you think we’ll see Jon Jones face Stipe Miocic next when he returns from his injury? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

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