'Damn more craziness': Pros react to Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic UFC 295 cancellation
25/10/2023 15:00
UFC CEO Dana White announced late Tuesday evening that Jones will no longer be defending his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the Nov. 11 main event at Madison Square Garden due to Jones suffering a pectoral injury.
This is a major blow to the UFC's visit to New York, which is now headlined by a vacant light heavyweight championship bout between Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira. Fans will still be treated to a heavyweight title bout, as Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall are set to clash for an interim championship.
One of the first fighters to react to the news on social media was featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Though he is just a few days removed from a devastating head-kick knockout loss to rival Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, Volkanovski joked that he was willing to "volunteer as tribute" for another big fight on short notice.
See Volkanovski's tweet and more social media reactions from the MMA community below.
I volunteer as tribute ♂️@danawhite@ufc
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) October 25, 2023
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) October 25, 2023
Sucks that Jones and Stipe fight off. When I got hurt and they cancelled UFC 151 I was ready to fight Jon and in great shape. I talk about that in the book. #UFC295#UFC151
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) October 25, 2023
Wishing you a speedy recovery champ @JonnyBones
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) October 25, 2023
Any word why Stipe wasn't included in the interim vs one of the other two??
— Eric Nicksick (@EricXCMMA) October 25, 2023
Likelihood of Jon coming back after 8 months against either Aspinall or Pavlovich?
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) October 25, 2023
Not really surprised Miocic isn't fighting for the Interim belt either... kinda feels like if the Jones fight hadn't been booked, he'd be happy not fighting and just doing his thing
