Pereira vs Prochazka: UFC 295 results, highlights and analysis
MAIN EVENT: VACANT LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE BOUT -- JIRI PROCHAZKA VS. ALEX PEREIRA -- 11:59 PM ET
Alex Pereira’s rise continues, but this particular victory is coming with controversy.
Pereira defeated Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 295 to win the vacant light heavyweight title, capitalizing on a right-left combination that rocked Prochazka. As Pereira started to elbow a vulnerable Prochazka, referee Marc Goddard stopped the fight.
And the stoppage came all too soon.
Pereira (9-2), who is the newest GLORY Hall of Famer, now becomes a two-division champion in the UFC. He is the first fighter to defeat Prochazka (29-4-1) since 2015, but even though he is the undisputed champion, this victory comes chalk full of questions.
In a fight that started just before midnight, Pereira opened the action with a calf kick that sent Prochazka to the ground. Halfway through the first round, Prochazka attempted to grapple with Pereira. He succeeded in bringing Pereira to the ground and gained half-mount position with two minutes left in the round, but Pereira worked his way back to his feet with 20 seconds remaining. That round likely belonged to Prochazka, but Pereira made it close.
Pereira connected with a strike in the early moments of the second round. It appeared as though this evolved into a clash of styles, with Prochazka seeking to grapple while Pereira was more comfortable with his kickboxing, but Prochazka then cut off the cage and laid into Pereira with some strong striking.
Prochazka was attacking when he got dropped. The victory adds to Pereira’s legacy at Madison Square Garden, where he has won all three fights, including two title bouts.
The most likely outcome is this bout is run back, but Jamahal Hill is next in line for a title shot. Pereira also called out Israel Adesanya, but Prochazka is more than deserving of a rematch.
In his post-fight interview, Prochazka did not argue with the stoppage.
Alex Pereira had no issue with the referee stoppage at UFC 295
Despite some controversy, there is finally clarity at the top of the light heavyweight division.
INTERIM HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE BOUT: SERGEI PAVLOVICH VS. TOM ASPINALL -- 11:33 PM ET
Tom Aspinall is bringing the heavyweight gold home to the United Kingdom.
A ferocious right hand from Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich, ending this bout in only 69 seconds.
This was coming down to whoever landed the first major blow, and Aspinall connected with a right hand to the temple. Following the win, Aspinall dropped to his knees, full of emotion after knocking out a premiere knockout artist.
Though the fight did not last long, Aspinall (14-3) was able to capitalize on his speed. Pavlovich (18-2) never landed a big blow, which is the best way to beat the monstrous Russian.
Tom Aspinall is the new interim UFC heavyweight champion
On only two weeks notice, and 15 months removed from tearing his MCL, parts of his meniscus, and even having complications with his ACL, Aspinall is the new interim heavyweight champion.
The first British heavyweight champion, the celebration started in style. Aspinall dedicated the win to his father, then exited to Give It Up by KC and the Sunshine Band.
Let the Aspinall era begin.
WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT BOUT: JESSICA ANDRADE VS. MACKENZIE DERN -- 11:02 PM ET
Jessica Andrade tasted victory, knocking out Mackenzie Dern in the second round of their strawweight bout.
After starting the year with a victory, Andrade fought three more times. And lost all three. But that losing streak is over, as Andrade (25-12) collects a massive TKO victory against Dern.
Andrade wanted to keep this fight on the feet, and that is precisely what she did. Dern (13-4) entered having won two of her last three, but she could not match Andrade’s power.
Andrade connected in the final 10 seconds of a competitive first round, dropping Dern. But there was not enough time for her to capitalize (somewhere, Dominick Cruz was criticizing referee Keith Peterson for stopping his 2020 bout against Henry Cejudo, while allowing this one to continue).
Andrade attacked again in the second round, twice knocking Dern to the mat. Both times Andrade wanted her back on her feet, and that led to a third knockdown, which was convincing enough for Peterson to end the fight.
Andrade improves her 2023 record to 2-3 with a much needed victory at UFC 295
Even with another loss, Andrade adds value to the UFC. Her bouts are exciting and she fights often, but still, she desperately wanted to avoid a fourth straight loss. Through a patient, powerful approach, that is exactly what she did.
LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT: MATT FREVOLA VS. BENOIT SAINT DENIS -- 10:39 PM ET
Even if it was only for a moment, Benoit Saint Denis silenced the crowd at Madison Square Garden.
Saint Denis knocked out Matt Frevola in their lightweight bout, winning his fifth straight bout in emphatic fashion.
A native of New York, Frevola (11-4-1) was showered with cheers from the crowd as the fight started, but a vicious left kick to the head shattered any hopes he had of winning. A quick ground-and-pound followed before the referee stopped the fight at the 91-second mark, giving the knockout win to Saint Denis (13-1, 1 NC).
This was a sensational knockout for Saint Denis (13-1, 1 NC). The victory will propel him into the top-15, and the 27-year-old is quickly becoming a threat in the division.
Saint Denis will not get a bout against Justin Gaethje or Dustin Poirier, both of whom he called out in his post-fight interview. Perhaps that will happen sooner than we think, but he will need a couple more significant victories before that happens.
FEATHERWEIGHT BOUT: DIEGO LOPES VS. PAT SABATINI -- 10:20 PM ET
The opening bout did not last long.
Diego Lopes made extremely quick work of Pat Sabatini, rocking him with a combination that effectively ended the bout in only 90 seconds. The knockout victory is especially impressive for Lopes (23-6), who picks up his second UFC victory in three fights.
Lopes wearing the smile of a man who just delivered a first-round KO
In all three of Lopes’ UFC fights, he has been extremely fun to watch. He has a killer instinct, and at only 28, he also has a bright future. It is a difficult loss for Sabatini (18-5), who has now lost two of his last three.
Jared Gordon Reflects On UFC Journey
Jared Gordon has his Madison Square Garden victory.
The proud native of New York defeated Mark Marden in an early prelim bout, putting himself in position to challenge a top-15 lightweight.
“I want a top-15 opponent,” said Gordon. “I just finished this guy. That’s what I want next. If they offer someone, I’ll take it.”
Gordon (20-6, 1 NC) battled a heroin addiction earlier in his life, yet found a way to reach extraordinary heights in the UFC.
“People ask how I went from this to that,” said Gordon. “I just put one foot in front of the other, had a little faith, and worked hard. It’s amazing what we can do when we are consistent and work hard.”
UFC 295 Preview
New York, NY–The city that never sleeps is wide awake for UFC 295.
A card that is lacking the star power of Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic forges on with headliners Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira, as well as heavyweights Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall fighting for the interim title.
Courtesy Zuffa LLC
There should be a stark contrast between the main event and co-main. The heavyweight bout should last far less than five minutes. If it goes more than three minutes, that would be a genuine surprise. The light heavyweights should be a far more intricate, longer bout, possibly even all five rounds.
Live updates of the main card will begin at 10pm ET, with interviews, beginning with Jared Gordon, posting throughout the night.
