Jon Jones‘ withdrawal from UFC 295 has led to an interim heavyweight championship fight between Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall, and while it was disappointing, some believe it wasn’t completely surprising and it has created an intriguing matchup in the heavyweight division.
Jon Jones’ withdrawal from UFC 295 has led to an intriguing interim heavyweight championship on Saturday as Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall will now battle in the co-main event for an interim title. UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik expressed his initial reaction to the news, stating, “Not surprised, with respect.” He also expressed hope that the heavyweight division is able to move forward by the summer of 2024.
Anik is thrilled to call the fight between Pavlovich and Aspinall and is also hopeful that the highly-anticipated fight between Jones and Miocic will be re-booked soon, ideally within 10 months. He emphasized the excitement surrounding the upcoming match between Pavlovich and Aspinall, saying, “Is that not just a massive, massive heavyweight fight in 2023? You can’t help but just smile as an MMA fan. That fight is absolutely enormous and without any build up, the intrigue is just through the roof on that one for me.”
He is excited for the movement in the heavyweight division and the fact that Pavlovich and Aspinall are both in their primes and ready to compete. Anik expressed his anticipation for the fight, stating, “Gosh, I can’t wait for that fight, and I do think the UFC will be able to un-muddy the muddy waters when it comes to the championship, and the pecking order, and all of that.”
Overall, while Jones’ withdrawal from UFC 295 was disappointing, it has paved the way for an exciting interim heavyweight championship fight between Pavlovich and Aspinall. Anik is eager for the fight and hopeful that the heavyweight division will see further movement and clarification in the near future.