Nancy Turner
Oct 25, 2023 - 12:05

Jon Jones Injury Forces Him Out of UFC 295 Heavyweight Title Defense

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is out of his title defense due to a torn pectoral tendon, requiring surgery.

UFC fans received disappointing news on Wednesday as UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones was forced to withdraw from his upcoming title defence against Stipe Miocic. Dana White, the CEO of the promotion, confirmed the news, stating that Jones had suffered a torn pectoral tendon during training and would require surgery. This injury means that Jones will be out of competition for at least eight months.

Jones, widely regarded as one of the greatest UFC athletes of all time, was set to face former champion Miocic in the headline championship bout at UFC 295 on November 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York. However, the torn tendon has derailed those plans.

In light of Jones' withdrawal, the UFC has made some changes to the fight card. Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall, the second- and fourth-ranked contenders in the heavyweight division, will now compete for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 295. Additionally, the vacant light heavyweight title bout between Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira has been elevated to the main event.

Dana White took to social media to announce the unfortunate news, explaining the nature of Jones' injury. According to White, Jones sustained the injury while wrestling during a training session. The torn tendon has disconnected his pectoral muscle from the bone, necessitating surgery and a lengthy recovery period.

Jones, who previously held the light heavyweight title, made his return to the UFC earlier this year after a three-year hiatus. In his heavyweight debut at UFC 285, he quickly submitted Cyril Gane to claim the vacant belt. With an impressive professional record of 27 wins, 1 loss, and 1 no contest, Jones currently boasts an incredible 18-fight winning streak, including a record-breaking 14 title fight victories at 205 lbs.

On the other hand, Stipe Miocic, a former two-time heavyweight champion, is considered by Jones himself as the best heavyweight in UFC history. Miocic's most recent fight was at UFC 260 in March 2021, where he lost the belt to Francis Ngannou.

While fans may be disappointed by Jones' absence from the upcoming event, the interim heavyweight title fight and the elevated light heavyweight bout promise to deliver an exciting night of action for UFC fans.