UFC pay-per-views are nearly always a good time. But UFC 295 this weekend has a point of increased interest for British MMA fans. Tom Aspinall will compete for the vacant UFC interim heavyweight championship in the co-main event, taking on knockout artist Sergei Pavlovich.
The Russian has lost just one fight in the UFC. Pavlovich has won six bouts since that 2018 loss to the legendary Alistair Overeem. Every single one of those victories ended by knockout. Aspinall knows exactly what Pavlovich will try to do to him on Saturday. But can he stop him?
Aspinall knows the value of a finish too. The Wiganer is also 6-1 in the UFC and not a single one of his opponents has heard the final bell. The smart money is on this bout finishing inside the distance. But will it end with the first British heavyweight champion in UFC history?
The main event of the card is also an absolute corker. The vacant UFC light heavyweight gold is on the line as Jiri Prochazka takes on former UFC middleweight king Alex Pereira. Prochazka never lost his 205lb title in the ring, being forced to vacate this belt after suffering a shoulder injury last year.
Meanwhile, Pereira is enjoying a remarkable, if topsy-turvy, year. Last November, ‘Poatan’ ended Israel Adesanya’s three-year reign as UFC middleweight champion. Pereira then lost the title back to Adesanya in February before righting the ship with a decision victory up at light heavyweight over former titleholder Jan Blachowicz.
As well as two titanic title tussles, the undercard carries some serious weight too. The pick of the bunch is a strawweight battle between Mackenzie Dern and former belt-holder Jessica Andrade.
Here’s everything you need to know about an excellent MMA offering.
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, United States
When: Saturday 11th November, (1am Sunday UK time)
How To Watch: TNT Sports 1
Tale Of The Tape:
Aspinall:
Place Of Birth: Wigan, England
Age: 30
Record: 13-3
Height: 6’5”
Reach: 78’’
Last Fight: Aspinall needed just 73 seconds to knock out Marcin Tybura at the O2 Arena back in July. The victory landed the Brit a Performance of the Night bonus.
Pavlovich:
Place Of Birth: Orlovsky, Rostov Oblast, Russia
Age: 31
Record: 18-1
Height: 6’3”
Reach: 84”
Last Fight: Pavlovich took out highly-ranked contender Curtis Blaydes in 3:08 of the first round back in April.
Main card
Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira; For the vacant UFC light heavyweight title
Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall; For the interim UFC heavyweight championship
Mackenzie Dern vs. Jessica Andrade; Women's strawweight
Matt Frevola vs. Benoit Saint-Denis; Lightweight
Diego Lopes vs. Pat Sabatini; Featherweight
Prelims
Steve Erceg vs. Alessandro Costa; Flyweight
Tabatha Ricci vs. Loopy Godinez; Women's strawweight
Nazim Sadykhov vs. Viacheslav Borshchev; Lightweight
Early prelims
Jared Gordon vs. Mark Madsen; Lightweight
John Castaneda vs. Kang Kyung-ho; Bantamweight
Joshua Van vs. Kevin Borjas; Flyweight
Dennis Buzukja vs. Jamall Emmers; Featherweight
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
