The heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 has been canceled due to an injury suffered by Jones, UFC president Dana White announced late Tuesday night via social media.
Jones sustained a torn pec during grappling training, tearing his pec off the bone and forcing the fight to be postponed indefinitely.
The light heavyweight title clash between Alex Periera and Jiri Prochazka has been promoted to the main event, with heavyweights Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall facing off for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main.
Jones is estimated to be out of action for eight months to recover from his injury, which will require surgery, White said.
Fighters and fans alike took to twitter to voice their opinions on the change to the card, many fans worrying what this injury could mean for Jones’ career.
MMA Twitter in shambles after learning Jon Jones will be out for 8 months
New title fight is an absolute banger
— Tony Sartori (@tony_sartori) October 25, 2023
But a 36-year old Jones entering an eight month recovery??
This can’t be the end of the GOAT pic.twitter.com/GQxKBRJ8aM
WHAT DO YOU MEAN JON JONES IS OUT OF UFC 295?? 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/8yaXyVQev5
— 📌 (@darwinsburner) October 25, 2023
Fans also shared concerns over Miocic’s place in the heavyweight division.
So Stipe Miocic Retiring ? 😒 #Ufc295 these injuries been real annoying lately first #UFC294 now this
— $tonedGod🕊🇭🇹 (@StonedGod_) October 25, 2023
Despite some disappointment, fans were also vocal in their support for Tom Aspinall, a heavyweight fan favorite and top contender, who earlier in his career suffered an injury which kept him out of the cage for nearly a full year.
Tom Aspinall stepping in for Jon Jones, but isn’t even going to fight Stipe. Aspinall and Pavlovich for the “fake” title. This sucks, I was excited to see Jon Jones destroy Stipe. #UFC
— Anthony (@AnthonyCaruso03) October 25, 2023
Tom Aspinall is RUNNING THRU Pav https://t.co/Rx7MrsmAZU
— (High) Conor champ 2024🍃🏆 (@HighConorr) October 25, 2023
Others posted memes and GIFs to express their emotions in the moment.
Dana White talking to Jon Jones sparring partner 🤦🏽♂️pic.twitter.com/aFQgde2rLW
— Danny Murillo🃏✌🏽 (@Danny_Muri11o) October 25, 2023
European UFC fans waking up to Jon Jones pulling out and Pavlovich vs Aspinall being official pic.twitter.com/Gy5vmbovjd
— Stand Em Up (@Standemup) October 25, 2023
Jon Jones and Stipe fight is off pic.twitter.com/1vM8bhutlk
— LiLux (@MoraMthonyama) October 25, 2023
Jon Jones is out of #UFC295 pic.twitter.com/s9sYD4y5SQ
— Martín Cro Cop (@martin_srz) October 25, 2023
Jon Jones really out of his main event fight with Stipe… pic.twitter.com/WelWSzWsRF
— Juan RC 🇵🇷 (@elclass_king) October 25, 2023
what the fuck jon jones is hurt? ima cry myself to sleep now wtf i was so hype
— Marty Byrde (@KerrickDuchy) October 25, 2023
Even featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski weighed in on the news, joking that he would fill in for Jones at heavyweight.
I volunteer as tribute 🙋♂️@danawhite @ufc 🤣 pic.twitter.com/hXHa6BotWw
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) October 25, 2023
Max Holloway also replied to the shocker.
Damn more craziness https://t.co/BM7hQ30z8x
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) October 25, 2023
Jones’ last fight was in March 2023, where he made his debut at heavyweight, defeating Ciryl Gane to capture the UFC heavyweight title in the first round.
Miocic has been out of action since 2021, when he suffered a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou to lose his heavyweight title.
These fight changes come just a few days after UFC 294, an event that also saw the main event and co-main event altered, when Alexander Volkanovski and Kamaru Usman stepped in to fight opponents on just 12 days’ notice.