UFC 295 LIVE results: Aspinall knocks out Pavlovich before Pereira stops Prochazka
Re-live updates after the vacant light-heavyweight title and interim heavyweight belt were contested at Madison Square Garden
Tom Aspinall claimed the interim UFC heavyweight title on Saturday night, knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in the first round in New York City.
The main event of UFC 295 was due to see Jon Jones defend the heavyweight title against divisional great Stipe Miocic, but that bout was cancelled on two weeks’ notice after Jones suffered an injury in training. With Jones, 36, set to face eight months on the sidelines, the UFC pitted Aspinall against Pavlovich to crown an interim champion, and it was the Briton who triumphed at Madison Square Garden.
Aspinall, who admitted to being “scared” ahead of his fight with the Russian, caught Pavlovich with two clean right hands in the first round, wobbling him with the first and dropping him with the second. The Wigan fighter, 30, followed up with a trio of hammer fists to the downed Pavlovich, sealing the knockout to become the third British champion in UFC history.
Aspinall vs Pavlovich in fact served as the co-main event of UFC 295, while the original co-main event was elevated and saw Alex Pereira beat Jiri Prochazka for the vacant light-heavyweight title.
Pereira, a former middleweight champion, became the ninth two-weight champion in UFC history by securing a TKO in Round 2. The Brazilian dropped his Czech opponent with a left hook before unleashing a series of elbows, before referee Marc Goddard stepped in.
Re-live updates and results from the UFC 295 main card and prelims, below.
UFC 295 LIVE: Jessica Andrade vs Mackenzie Dern
One fight left before tonight’s two title fights: Former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade takes on longtime contender Mackenzie Dern.
And after a fair wait, here we go!
UFC 295 LIVE: Matt Frevola vs Benoit Saint-Denis
Benoit Saint-Denis def. Matt Frevola via first-round knockout (head kick, 1:31).
Frevola was trying to move along the fence to his right, but Saint-Denis cut him off with that head kick.
Frevola applauds the Frenchman as the result is read aloud.
UFC 295 LIVE: Matt Frevola vs Benoit Saint-Denis
Round 1
Lots of boos for Saint-Denis and cheers for Frevola, followed by “U-S-A” chants.
Saint-Denis opens up with a head kick, which is largely blocked. Now he kicks low. Frevola with a decent counter left hook from his orthodox stance – which Saint-Denis also utilises here.
Now the Frenchman goes southpaw and drops the American with a body kick! It seemed to be the force of the blow that did it, rather than anything else.
Saint-Denis follows Frevola to the mat and a scramble ensues. They stand, and Frevola lifts and dumps down the tourist!
Saint-Denis stands now, though, then DROPS FREVOLA WITH A CLEAN HEAD KICK! OH! FREVOLA IS HALF-OUT!
One follow-up punch on the downed American, but even that wasn’t necessary! It’s all over!
UFC 295 LIVE: Matt Frevola vs Benoit Saint-Denis
Next up: Matt Frevola vs Benoit Saint-Denis, in what should be a fun lightweight affair.
It’s also a clash of veterans on Veterans Day! Frevola served in the US army, while Saint-Denis is a former French special-forces officer.
UFC 295 LIVE: Diego Lopes vs Pat Sabatini
Diego Lopes def. Pat Sabatini via first-round knockout (punches, 1:30).
Emphatic!
UFC 295 LIVE: Diego Lopes vs Pat Sabatini
Round 1
Sabatini with a winging hook that hurts Lopes, who is rocking an audacious mullet...
A grappling scramble ensues, and Lopes catches Sabatini with a right hand off the break! It wobbles Sabatini, and Lopes follows up with more shots to drop his opponent!
More punches with Sabatini on the mat, and Lopes turns off his lights! It’s all over in Round 1!
Lopes goes over to Trump to celebrate, with the ex-US president applauding him.
UFC 295 LIVE: Main card under way!
Here’s how the main card looks:
Jiri Prochazka vs Alex Pereira (vacant light-heavyweight title)
Sergei Pavlovich vs Tom Aspinall (interim heavyweight title)
Jessica Andrade vs Mackenzie Dern (women’s strawweight)
Matt Frevola vs Benoit Saint-Denis (lightweight)
Diego Lopes vs Pat Sabatini (featherweight)
We start with Lopes vs Sabatini!
UFC 295 LIVE: Donald Trump greeted by cheers upon arrival
Look who’s in the building...
Donald Trump greeted by cheers upon arrival at UFC 295
The former US president has attended numerous UFC events in recent years
UFC 295 LIVE: Steve Erceg vs Alessandro Costa
Steve Erceg def. Alessandro Costa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
And onto the main card!
UFC 295 LIVE: Steve Erceg vs Alessandro Costa
Round 3
Erceg controls Costa against the fence early in this final round. Costa deters the Aussie with an elbow, though.
The flyweights move into the open, where Erceg lands a sharp jab then shoots for a takedown. Solid defence by Costa, but he’s up against the fence for now.
Not for long, though. Out in the open, Erceg eats a wild right hook from Costa.
Erceg gets ahold of the Brazilian and looks for various trips, but none of them quite come off.
Erceg is racking up control time, in any case. And to the judges we go.
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