UFC CEO Dana White took to social media on Tuesday to announce that Jon Jones will no longer be participating in the eagerly awaited heavyweight title bout against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295. Their showdown was supposed to be the main event of UFC 295 on November 11 in New York.
White revealed that Jones suffered a severe injury during a training session on Monday night, tearing a pectoral tendon off the bone. This injury necessitates surgery, which is expected to sideline him for approximately eight months. A new bout has been added to the card, where Tom Aspinall will face Sergei Pavlovich in a fight for the interim UFC heavyweight title.
Recently, it was reported by ESPN that the costliest ticket for UFC 295 was sold for a whopping $112,236.80. Fans felt bad for the person who bought this ticket, as the main attraction for the night has now changed. “I feel bad for this person a little, lol, wrote a fan on X.
The highest UFC ticket price sold this year was $31,730 to UFC 287.
The most expensive ticket for UFC 295 costs almost four times as much 😳 pic.twitter.com/YbYdDyhyag
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 12, 2023
Another user inquired whether the fans who had bought the tickets already will be issued a refund now that the card has been altered: “Do they still get a refund if the main event changes?” A fan argued that the ticket price is still worth it because of Sergei Pavlovich: “Anyone who wouldn’t pay to see Pavlovich live is a casual fan anyway.”
The fight, which was billed as a clash between Jon Jones, regarded by many as the greatest fighter in MMA history, and Stipe Miocic, the most accomplished heavyweight in UFC history, will not come to fruition. Fans are not happy, and some of them even demand a refund after the fight got pulled.
UFC 295: Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka to be the main event
Obviously, the card at Madison Square Garden will witness a shift in its lineup. The vacant light heavyweight title fight, which is set to feature former champion Jiri Procházka and former middleweight champ Alex Pereira, will now take center stage as the main event. Additionally, for the new co-main event, top heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall will face the dangerous Sergei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight title.
🚨JON JONES IS INJURED & OFF #UFC295
the INTERIM heavyweight championship is now on the line & the CO-MAIN EVENT per Dana White
Sergei Pavlovich vs Tom Aspinall
UFC 295 | November 11 | NYC | MSG pic.twitter.com/d9MwxnlACR— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) October 25, 2023
The main event will also host a featherweight fight between Diego Lopes and Pat Sabatini. Moreover, Jessica Andrade and Mackenzie Dern are also going to fight in the penultimate PPV event of the year. So, fans must note that the card is still pretty solid as some really amazing fights are set to take place on November 11.
Although Jones vs. Stipe was considered the clash of the GOATs and a legacy fight, Aspinall vs. Pavlovich is no less. These two have been long considered the future of the division. So, an interim title between the two is really a bout between the best in the business. What do you think about the new UFC 295 card? Tell us in the comments!