Featured Image Credit: Getty / UFC
Topics: UFC, Dana White, Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic, MMA
Ryan Smart
Jon Jones has pulled out of his UFC Heavyweight Championship fight at UFC 295 - and a completely new main event has been scheduled in place of his planned fight against Stipe Miocic.
The American was set to take part in just his second UFC fight since February 2020, but is now off the card entirely for the event in New York.
UFC have confirmed that, in place of Jones vs Miocic, there will be an interim title fight between British star Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich - which will serve as the co-main event.
Meanwhile, the main event has been changed entirely, with the promotion announcing that Jiri Prochazka vs Alex Pereira will now headline the show instead.
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Confirming news of Jones' withdrawal in a statement posted to X (Twitter), UFC president Dana White said that the American had suffered a serious pectoral injury that needs surgery - and will leave him out for eight months.
He explained: "Jon Jones was training last night and got injured.
"He was wrestling and tore the tendon that connects your pec to the bone, off the bone. Eight months, going to need surgery. He's out."
The match between Aspinall and Pavlovich, therefore, will crown a new interim heavyweight champion - the first title shot of Aspinall's UFC career.
The winner could face Jones upon his return from injury, although the American has previously considered the idea of walking away from UFC entirely.
Speaking to SPORTbible in May, Aspinall spoke of his desire to fight Jones before that happens.
He said: "I'd be slightly disappointed [if he left]. But what matters to me is being UFC heavyweight champion. That's what matters to me.
"I'm not bothered if it's against Jon Jones. It would be nice. It'd be really nice to fight him, and say I fought him. But I wouldn't too bothered if he left. He can do what he wants."
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