Tag: UFC 295

UFC 295: Make your predictions for Prochazka-Pereira, Pavlovich-Aspinall title fights in New York (Updated)

We want your predictions for UFC 295 in New York with vacant light heavyweight and interim heavyweight titles on the line.

We want your predictions for UFC 295 in New York.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC 295 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC 295 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the fights below.

[lawrence-related id=2693646]

UFC 295: How to watch two title fights, start time, New York fight card, odds, more

Here’s how to watch UFC 295 with vacant light heavyweight and interim heavyweight belts on the line at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The UFC returns to the mecca of combat sports Saturday for UFC 295 in New York with a pair of title fights at the top of the lineup.

Here’s how to watch UFC 295 with the vacant light heavyweight and interim heavyweight belts on the line.

UFC 295 commentary team, broadcast plans set: Joe Rogan gets first assignment in three months

The commentary A-team of Jon Anik, Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier will unite at UFC 295 for the first time since August.

The 13th and penultimate numbered UFC event of the year is rapidly approaching with UFC 295 on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.

As always, some marquee on-air talent will be there to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will be working as commentators and analysts for the show have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the plans – and you can see the scheduled broadcast team below.

* * * *

Chael Sonnen: Alex Pereira would surpass Islam Makhachev as Fighter of the Year with UFC 295 win

Despite a defeat in 2023, Chael Sonnen believes Alex Pereira holding two titles in one year would make him worthy of Fighter of the Year.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] is the Fighter of the Year if he can capture the light heavyweight title at UFC 295.

Pereira (8-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) faces Jiri Prochazka (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) for the vacant 205-pound belt in Saturday’s main event Nov. 11 at Madison Sqaure Garden in New York.

For now, lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] is Sonnen’s Fighter of the Year. Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) defeated featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski twice – once by decision and the other by first-round knockout at UFC 294.

“The current leader for Fighter of the Year is very clear: It’s Islam Makhachev,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “No other fighter this year has taken out somebody to that degree. Islam only got two fights this year, but it was the same guy, Volkanovski, the undefeated, the unbeaten, the reigning world champion.

“While Islam slid past one, he then took on Volkanovski, who had another title defense and was the reigning, sitting world champion, and he didn’t get out of the first three minutes. The clear leader right now is Islam.”

But if former middleweight champion Pereira can beat Prochazka and win a second UFC title in just seven fights in the octagon, Sonnen would give him the crown of the best fighter of the year.

In 2023, Pereira lost his middleweight title to Israel Adesanya in April, then defeated ex-champ Jan Blachowicz in his light heavyweight debut in July. If he beats Prochazka on Saturday, Pereira will have held both the middleweight and light heavyweight belts in the span of 12 months.

“However, if Alex Pereira wins, he will within this calendar year – which is the specific dates of the question – have been the 185-pound champion and the 205-pound champion in the same calendar year, and therefore makes him Fighter of the Year per my vote,” Sonnen added.

[lawrence-related id=2693550,2693657,2693635,2692913]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

UFC 295 ‘Embedded,’ No. 2: Alex Pereira reacts to Glory Hall of Fame announcement

The “Embedded” fight-week video series is back to document what’s happening behind the scenes at UFC 295 in New York.

The UFC is back for its regular fall trip to “The Big Apple,” and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 295 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

In the main event, former light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and ex-middleweight champ [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) meet for the vacant 205-pound title. Pereira will attempt to become the UFC’s newest two-division titleholder.

In the co-feature, the interim heavyweight title is on the line between [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) and [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who are fighting for that belt after champ Jon Jones suffered an injury training for his fight with Stipe Miocic, which was the card’s original headliner.

The second episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Alex Pereira makes it into a hall of fame. Mackenzie Dern puts family first. Tom Aspinall crosses the pond and gets to work. Sergei Pavlovich pushes himself. Jiri Prochazka perfects his form. Don’t miss UFC 295 on Saturday, November 11.

Also see:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

Robert Whittaker lauds Jiri Prochazka’s ‘uncanny ability to find the win’ before UFC 295

Heading into UFC 295, Robert Whittaker believes Jiri Prochazka’s will to win is undeniable.

[autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] believes [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag]’s will to win is undeniable.

Former champion Prochazka (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) meets [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) for the vacant light heavyweight title in Saturday’s UFC 295 main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Prochazka’s three UFC wins have been barnburners. His title win over Pereira’s mentor, Glover Teixeira, in June 2022 was one of the best fights of the year. While Whittaker can see Pereira as a safe bet, he finds it hard to pick against Prochazka.

“This is going to be a gnarly fight,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade Podcast. “Like, it’s crazy for so many different reasons. Obviously Pereira’s got an amazing striking game. We’ve seen it in his fights, and this is his weight division. He’s got the range, he’s got the reach, he’s got the height, so he looks good in this division. But Jiri, he’s so unorthodox. He’s so hard to get a read on, but he’s very hittable. He’s very hittable. I saw him in deep waters when he fought Glover (Teixeira).

“Jiri looked in deep waters with some of those shots he was taking from Glover, but he just never went away. Just never went away and was kind of always like doing his unorthodox type fighting. Obviously Glover was having a tough read of it, but he was landing big shots. But again, regardless, like, Glover looked really, really good and then lost. Jiri has an uncanny ability to find the win in these fights. He looks to be outclassed, but he finds the wins.”

UFC 295 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

[lawrence-related id=2693657,2693680,2693635,2691911]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

UFC 295 pre-event facts: Alex Pereira’s two-division title bid comes with historic twist

Check out the facts behind UFC 295, where Alex Pereira can join the two-division titleholder club in a way that differs from everyone else.

The UFC makes its annual stop in New York on Saturday with UFC 295, which takes place at Madison Square Garden with a pair of title fights that top the pay-per-view main card following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

In the main event, [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will return to competition from a significant injury to face [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) for the vacant light heavyweight belt. The co-headliner will see [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) clash with [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in an interim heavyweight championship contest.

For more on the numbers behind the title-fight doubleheader, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 295.

Avenging Glover Teixeira vs. Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 ‘means a lot’ for Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira relishes the opportunity to bring the light heavyweight title back to his mentor.

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] relishes the opportunity to bring the light heavyweight title back to his mentor.

Pereira (8-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) faces [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) for the vacant 205-pound title in Saturday’s UFC 295 headliner at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

Prochazka submitted Glover Teixeira in an all-out war at UFC 275 to become champion, but later vacated his belt after he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery. With Prochazka’s most recent win coming over Teixeira, Pereira has an opportunity to avenge that loss for him. But it’s not an emotional quest for “Poatan.”

“I’m not going into this fight with mixed emotions about vengeance,” Pereira told CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri through an interpreter. “I don’t want to play that game. I want to go with a very positive mindset. I’m going to fight with the mindset that they haven’t even fought before. But looking into the other side of being able to bring Glover his belt back and put it back in the gym, that means a lot to me.”

Former UFC middleweight champion Pereira was successful in his light heavyweight debut when he edged out ex-champ Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291 in July. He takes on a far more experienced Prochazka, but that’s something he’s already accustomed to.

“The thing that makes him dangerous is all the experience he has,” Pereira said. “He’s a seasoned fighter. He’s dangerous, but that helps to keep me aware and not overlook the guy. I’m actually preparing to go over there and get it done. He’s a seasoned and experienced guy. That plays a part in it.”

[lawrence-related id=2692913,2691911,2683369,2681454]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

UFC 295 ‘Embedded,’ No. 1: Jiri Prochazka takes his training to the playground

The “Embedded” fight-week video series is back to document what’s happening behind the scenes at UFC 295 in New York.

The UFC is back for its regular fall trip to “The Big Apple,” and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 295 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

In the main event, former light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and ex-middleweight champ [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) meet for the vacant 205-pound title. Pereira will attempt to become the UFC’s newest two-division titleholder.

In the co-feature, the interim heavyweight title is on the line between [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) and [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who are fighting for that belt after champ Jon Jones suffered an injury training for his fight with Stipe Miocic, which was the card’s original headliner.

The first episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Jiri Prochazka returns to action. Alex Pereira enjoys a new division. Mackenzie Dern trains at home. Tom Aspinall levels up, and opponent Sergei Pavlovich reaches a goal.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

Video: UFC 295 ‘Countdown’ for Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira

Did you miss the debut of UFC 295 “Countdown” or just want to watch it again? Check out the main event preview now.

Did you miss the debut of UFC 295 “Countdown” or just want to watch it again? Check out the main event preview now.

The segment takes a special look at the vacant light heavyweight title fight between former champion [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and former middleweight champ [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who will attempt to become the UFC’s latest two-division titleholder.

UFC 295 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

“Countdown” goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don’t miss the entire episode in the video below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.