Although not as initially billed, we’re promised a thrilling card at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, with UFC 295 set to crown two new champions.
A serious injury suffered by Jon Jones saw him pull out of his main event with Stipe Miocic and replaced with an interim title fight, while the co-main event between Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira has been bumped up to top billing.
It’s been nearly 18 months since Prochazka, in just his third UFC fight, captured the light heavyweight title, beating Glover Teixeira by submission in what was later named Fight of the Year.
The pair were due to fight again in December that year, but a serious shoulder injury saw Prochazka vacate the title, and he hasn’t fought since.
A controversial draw for the vacant title between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev followed with Jamahal Hill then claiming the title against Teixeira before having to vacate himself due to injury.
Pereira enjoyed a winning debut at light heavyweight having beaten Blachowicz, albeit by split decision, and the former middleweight champion is now bidding to become the UFC’s ninth two-weight champion.
The new co-main event sees top heavyweight contenders Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall face off looking to capture the interim title.
The pair were likely no more than one win away from a title shot, and there’s now a chance that the winner will fight Jones sometime in 2024 to unify the title.
Adam Catterall previews what is sure to be a historic night.
