Scheduled to take place at the iconic Madison Square Garden on November 11, UFC 295 has set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown.
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Scheduled to take place at the iconic Madison Square Garden on November 11, UFC 295 has set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown. The main attraction of the event is projected to feature Jon Jones, the reigning UFC heavyweight titleholder, as he puts his championship on the line in a clash against former champion Stipe Miocic.
Should everything unfold as intended, Jones will be embarking on his inaugural endeavor to safeguard the UFC heavyweight title. This prestigious accolade was secured in March when he executed a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane, marking Jones’ debut in the heavyweight division.
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Jones boasts an impressive record of eleven triumphant defenses during his tenure as the UFC light heavyweight champion. On the other hand, Miocic’s presence within the UFC Octagon has been absent since March 27, 2021. This notable appearance occurred at UFC 260, where he suffered the loss of his UFC heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou through a second-round knockout.
Having accumulated an impressive tally of four victorious UFC heavyweight title defenses, which stands as the most in UFC history, Miocic’s accomplishments shine brightly. However, in the event that either Jones or Miocic encounters an obstacle preventing their appearance in the cage on November 11, the UFC has a contingency strategy in place, with Sergei Pavlovich poised as the backup option.
According to Igor Lazorin on Instagram, Sergei Pavlovich, the top-ranked Russian heavyweight, is expected to be the back-up fighter for the main event at UFC 285. The UFC is keeping Pavlovich on standby in case either Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic is unable to compete. They hope that Pavlovich will be able to make weight and be ready to step in at a moment’s notice.
Pavlovich has a 18-1 record in his MMA career. He has been fighting in the UFC since 2018, but before that he competed exclusively in the Fight Nights Global organization. In that promotion, he won a heavyweight grand prix and their inaugural heavyweight title.
Pavlovich lost his UFC debut to Alistair Overeem via TKO. However, he has since bounced back with six straight wins, all by knockout or technical knockout. His most recent victories have come against Curtis Blaydes, Tai Tuivasa, and Derrick Lewis.
After knocking out Curtis Blaydes in April, Pavlovich said he would not fight again until he was given a title shot against Jon Jones. It seems that this gamble may have paid off, as he is now the backup fighter for the Jones vs. Miocic title fight.
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