UFC 295 already features the former light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, defending his heavyweight title vs. Stipe Miocic. Now, the event will also see the crowning of a new champion in the division.
UFC 295: Vacant Light Heavyweight Title Fight Set
UFC president Dana White announced Wednesday night that Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira will serve as the co-main event at UFC 295.
The vacant light heavyweight title will be on the line at the November 11 event from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In the main event, former light heavyweight champion and reigning heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones defends his belt against ex-heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. The card also features previously announced fights between Mackenzie Dern and Jessica Andrade and Matt Schnell and Steve Erceg.
The 30-year-old Prochazka was forced to vacate the belt after winning it from Glover Teixeira in 2022 due to an injury. He submitted Teixeira at UFC 275 in Singapore for his first title.
Before making a defense, though, he was forced to relinquish the belt.
Prior to joining the UFC, Prochazka won the Rizin light heavyweight title with a 2019 victory over Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal. He also bested both Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes inside the Octagon.
Prochazka will enter the fight with Pereira riding a 13-fight win streak and is 29-3-1 overall with 25 knockout wins to his credit.
Pereira, who got his first taste of UFC gold with a stunning 2022 knockout of Israel Adesanya for the middleweight belt, made his light heavyweight debut by downing Jan Blachowicz in July.
After finishing Adesanya, he lost the belt in the rematch and opted to make the move to 205 pounds. Pereira also holds a 2022 knockout win over current middleweight champion Sean Strickland and is 8-2 overall.
