Joshua Gaillard previews UFC 295 with the action set to come your way in the early hours of Sunday morning from Madison Square Garden.
The UFC returns to Madison Square Garden as two of the biggest names in combat history battle for the vacant light heavyweight championship. Former title holder Jiri Prochazka, a man who is unorthodox and so dangerous square off against former middleweight champion Alex Pereira, ready to etch his name on another belt.
Before the main event is placed under the lights, the ‘big boys’ throw down leather in the octagon with hopes of claiming the vacant heavyweight belt. Russian powerhouse Sergei Pavlovich has steamrolled his way to this opportunity, but standing there, opposite the octagon, ready to inflict thunderous damage, England’s ‘baddest man’, Tom Aspinall is ready to go.
Main Event
Jiri Prochazka 19/20 | Alex Pereira 77/100
What was meant to be a heavyweight clash between ‘the GOAT’ Jon Jones, and former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, before Jones sustained a shoulder injury, has turned into an equally exciting matchup. Former title holder Jiri Prochazka (29-3-1), a man who is unorthodox and so dangerous, squares off against former middleweight champion Alex Pereira, ready to etch his name on another UFC belt.
Jiri Prochazka (29-3-1) boasts 25 career knockouts and 11 consecutive finishes as a testament to his mentality around mixed martial arts. The Czech native won the light heavyweight title from Glover Teixeira in one of the best fights of 2022. In a bloody war, both warriors took serious punishment, but ‘Denisa’ was eventually able to find a dominant position and choke out his more experienced opponent. Unfortunately, Prochazka destroyed his shoulder, forcing him to vacate his newly claimed crown.
Alex Pereira (8-2) is unproven at light heavyweight, but he displayed his ability against a former champion and opponent of Prochazka, Jan Blachowicz, that he isn’t going to be easy to muscle around. Already massive in his former division – middleweight – ‘Poatan’ doesn’t appear outsized as a light heavyweight. If anything, he could be stronger than before not having to make a serious weight cut. The Brazilian’s kickboxing background has translated perfectly into the UFC, with many considering his striking ability second to none, and the precision from pinpoint leg kicks to sniper-like left hooks, has featured heavily in each of his victories as well as losses.
Verdict: Jiri Prochazka Win 19/20
For as long as this fight lasts, it’s going to be chaotic. Jiri hits like a truck, is a wildly creative striker, and has an underrated chaotic ground game.
As brutally dangerous, experienced, and technically dangerous a striker Pereira is, he has yet to fight someone as unorthodox on the feet as he is on the ground.
Both fighters know how to inflict scrupulous damage, but only one has proved his ability to absorb such… hence the pick of Jiri reclaiming his title.
Co-Main Event
Sergei Pavlovich 93/100 | Tom Aspinall 78/100
In the co-main event of the evening, the big boys will throw the leather in the octagon with hopes of claiming the vacant heavyweight belt. Russian powerhouse Sergei Pavlovich has steamrolled his way to this opportunity, but standing in his way is Tom Aspinall.
Sergei Pavlovich (18-1) has steamrolled his way to the top of the UFC heavyweight division with six first-round knockouts with an incredible reach that has served him well in his recent bouts. However, there are some question marks around the Russian. His lone defeat came back in 2018 when Alistair Overeem grounded and pounded him into the canvas, but since then, he hasn’t gone to the ground, and because he’s finished all his foes so quickly, we won’t know if he has made the necessary improvements.
Tom Aspinall (13-3), known for his all-around talent, is a sharp boxer and excellent grappler, making a quick return after an injury (in-fight knee injury loss to Curtis Blaydes) with a win in July. The Manchester native is a huge heavyweight, standing at 6’5” and weighing nearly 260 pounds. However, he moves like a much smaller man and arguably has a smoother boxing game than Pavlovich even if he lacks the ruthless power.
Verdict: Sergei Pavlovich 93/100
Tom Aspinall is much more well-rounded, but Sergei Pavlovich’s show-stopping power and precision striking simply cannot be ignored. Pavlovich will likely be the more prepared fighter as the intended backup for Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, and as fans saw in the main event of UFC 294, that can be a big factor.
Top Treble for UFC 295:
Pavlovich Win 93/100
Lopes Win 93/100
Sadykhov Win 73/100
Treble to win at 54/10
Full Card Predictions
Main Card: 04:00 CAT, Sunday 12 November
- Light Heavyweight (C) Jiří Procházka (19/20) vs Alex Pereira (77/100): Procházka
- Heavyweight (IC) Sergei Pavlovich (93/100) vs Tom Aspinall (78/100): Pavlovich
- (w) Strawweight Mackenzie Dern (46/100) vs Jéssica Andrade (31/20): Dern
- Lightweight Matt Frevola (7/4) vs Benoît Saint-Denis (4/10): Saint-Denis
- Featherweight Diego Lopes (93/100) vs Pat Sabatini (73/100): Lopes
Prelims: 02:00 CAT, Sunday 12 November
- Flyweight Steve Erceg (49/100) vs Alessandro Costa (29/20): Erceg
- (w) Strawweight Tabatha Ricci (13/10) vs Loopy Godinez (53/100): Ricci
- Lightweight Mateusz Rębecki (2/15) vs Roosevelt Roberts (42/10): Rębecki
- Lightweight Nazim Sadykhov (73/100) vs Viacheslav Borshchev (99/100): Sadykhov
Early Prelims: 00:00 CAT, Sunday 12 November
- Lightweight Jared Gordon (47/100) vs Mark Madsen (15/10): Gordon
- Bantamweight John Castañeda (13/20) vs Kang Kyung-ho (11/10): Castañeda
- Flyweight Joshua Van (4/10) vs Kevin Borjas (7/4): Van
- Featherweight Dennis Buzukja (39/20) vs Jamall Emmers (7/20): Emmers
