This Sunday, the stage is set for UFC 295, with Jiri Procházka and Alex Pereira squaring off in the main event for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Title.
However, this was not the feature that we expected at Madison Square Garden.
On October 26, UFC President Dana White announced to the media that the GOAT Jon Jones had pulled out of the fight due to a pectoral injury during sparring.
For the second straight month, the UFC matchmakers had to act quickly and make changes that affected both the Main Event and the Co-Main.
Who do you think gets the call? Not Volkanovski (this time), instead it was the two heavyweight powerhouses Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall.
How does the reshuffled card play out?
Our full UFC 295 Procházka vs Pereira Tips & Preview can be found below.
Jiri Procházka Vs Alex Pereira for the Vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Title
Tip: Jiri Prochazka by KO/TKO in rounds 1 or 2 @ $4.10
One man is looking to reclaim a title that was once his, the other is chasing history in his short UFC career, this is a fight I’m so excited to watch.
Jiri Procházka is a former UFC light heavyweight champ, however, due to a shoulder injury, he unselfishly relinquished the title so the division could still flourish.
But that didn’t go to plan, with Jamahal Hill being forced to vacate the title after sustaining an Achilles injury.
With the successful reign that Vacant has had, we’re anticipating a new Light Heavyweight champion for the first time since July this year.
Alex Pereira will be a tough task for the former champion, who hasn’t fought since last June.
The former Middleweight champion is looking to chase history in his short tenure with the UFC, by becoming the first man to win both the Middleweight and the Light Heavyweight title.
Not only has the Brazilian had some successful knockout finishes over Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya, but three months ago in his Light Heavyweight debut, Pereira secured a split-decision victory over the 205-pound champ, Jan Blachowicz.
For some shocking reason, the bookies believe Jiri as the underdog in this bout and looking at the numbers, I’ve got him winning quite comfortably.
The 31-year-old is on a 13-fight win streak including 25 of his 29 wins by way of knockout and 23 first-round finishes.
And yes, I understand he’s coming up against a unique opponent in Alex Pereira who has knocked out one of the greatest middleweights of all time, but Jiri is just as unique and talented.
On that note, I’m taking Jiri Prochazka to knock out Alex Pereira in rounds 1 or 2 as the Czech fighter has only made it outside of round two on four occasions in his entire career.
Sergei Pavlovich vs Tom Aspinall
Tip: Sergei Pavlovich KO/TKO Round 1 @ $3.35
A change in the Co-Main Event sees the number 2 ranked Heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich take on the fan favourite number 4 ranked, from Salford in the UK, Tom Aspinall.
The two heavyweight powerhouses will go toe-to-toe to determine who will be crowned the Interim Heavyweight champion and that man will be one step closer to the GOAT, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones
This is another bout I believe the bookies have completely wrong.
Sergei Pavlovich is currently the underdog at the time of writing, and I will be taking the value for him to win this bout by first-round knockout.
Since being knocked out in the first round by future Hall of Famer Alastair Overeem, the 31-year-old has been on a tear, knocking out notable fighters such as Derrick Lewis, Curtis Blaydes and our very own Tai Tuivasa, all in the first round.
Aspinall is no walk in the park by any means, but I don’t believe he has what it takes to conquer the Russian sensation.
With 31 combined wins, 25 knockouts and 17 first-round finishes, this is a fight that won’t hear the first-round siren, in my opinion.
I see great value in Sergei Pavlovich to win by knockout in the very first round.
Jessica Andrade vs Mackenzie Dern
Tip: Andrade by KO/TKO or Points @ TBC
A ranked women’s strawweight bout is set to shake up their division with Jess Andrade looking to snap her three fight losing streak, against the seventh ranked Mackenzie Dern.
This is a bout that has every chance to take out the 50k Fight of The Night Bonus thanks to UFC President Dana White.
Andrade has everything at her disposal, she can stand and throw punches, she can wrestle, and she has proven to be a knockout artist, with nine to her name along with 11 first-round-finishes.
I think that the fifth ranked fighter has everything in her power to snap her losing streak and defeat Dern by way of KO/TKO or Points.
