New York, USA – The eagerly awaited showdown between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight championship, originally slated for UFC 295, has been canceled due to a significant injury suffered by Jones during his training regimen. UFC President Dana White confirmed that Jones tore a pectoral tendon off the bone while training on Monday, necessitating surgery and a recovery period of at least eight months. As a result, the highly anticipated main event at Madison Square Garden on November 11 will no longer feature the heavyweight title clash.
Dana White announced that an interim heavyweight title fight will take place between Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall in lieu of the Jones-Miocic matchup. Additionally, the light heavyweight title bout between Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira has been promoted to the main event.
Jon Jones made his return to the UFC in March after a three-year hiatus, moving up to the heavyweight division to face Ciryl Gane. In a thrilling bout, Jones emerged victorious by securing a chokehold on Gane, claiming the vacant heavyweight championship in the process. Following his victory, Jones expressed his desire to fight Stipe Miocic, whom he regarded as the greatest heavyweight in UFC history. The bout was officially scheduled for Madison Square Garden.
Jones has solidified his status as one of the greatest light heavyweights in UFC history, boasting a record-breaking 14 title fight victories and an unbeaten streak of 18 matches, with an overall record of 26 wins, 1 loss, and 1 no-contest. However, his career has not been without controversy, as he was previously suspended for a year in 2016 due to a failed drug test and had a victory over Daniel Cormier in 2017 overturned to a no-contest following another failed drug test.