In one of the most important cards for Brazilian MMA in 2023, the fight week of the UFC 295.
An unexpected injury to Jon Jones He completely changed the landscape not only of the heavyweight category, of which he is the linear champion, but also of the UFC 295 card itself. Now the light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka and the challenger Alex Poatan were tasked with starring in one of the biggest pay-per-view events of the year in UFC.
The change with Jon Jones’ departure directly impacts the order of the event and the future of a category. Therefore, the Fifth Bedroom decided to explain what changed for UFC 295. The event will be held next Saturday (11) at Madison Square Garden, in New York, United States.
UFC 295: the cancellation of Jon Jones x Stipe Miocic
Two weeks before the event, on the 25th, Jon Jones ended up suffering an injury during one of the last activities before the fight. When taking a takedown on a training partner, he ended up injuring his pectoral tendon and suffering a tear there, canceling his confrontation with Stipe Miocic.
Injury took Jon Jones out of UFC 295 main fight (Photo: Icon Sport)
With the cancellation of the confrontation for the category’s linear belt, the organization decided to introduce the division’s interim belt and announced the confrontation between Sergey Pavlovich It is Tom Aspinall. Jon Jones is only expected to make his return between the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, while Miocic’s future is undefined.
UFC 295: Alex Poatan in the main fight for the belt
With the cancellation of the clash between Jones and Miocic, the UFC decided to further increase the importance of the clash between Jiri Prochazka and Alex Poatan for the light heavyweight belt. Now, the duel will be in the main fight instead of the co-main fight of UFC 295.
Alex Poatan fights for light heavyweight belt at UFC 295 (photo: Icon Sport)
Former champion of the category, Jiri Prochazka makes his return after handing over the belt due to an injury. Same situation as the last champion Jamahal Hill, which left the belt vacant. On the other hand, Alex Poatan, former middleweight champion, moved up a category after losing the belt and debuted with a victory over the Polish Jan Blachowicz.
Check out the full UFC 295 card
Light heavyweight title fight: Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Poatan
Interim heavyweight title fight: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall
Strawweight: Jéssica Bate-Estaca vs. Mackenzie Dern
Lightweight: Matt Frevola vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
Featherweight: Pat Sabatini vs. Diego Lopes
Flyweight: Steve Erceg vs. Alessandro Costa
Strawweight: Tabatha Ricci vs. Lupita Godinez
Lightweight: Mateusz Rebecki vs. Roosevelt Roberts
Lightweight: Nazim Sadykhov vs. Viacheslav Borshchev
Lightweight: Jared Gordon vs. Mark Madsen
Bantamweight: Kyung Ho Kang vs. John Castañeda
Flyweight: Joshua Van vs. Kevin Borjas
Featherweight: Dennis Buzukja vs. Jamall Emmers
SEE TOO:
+ MMA: After controversial fight, Raush Manfio announces departure from PFL
++ UFC announces three title fights for 2024
