UFC 295 Undercard Showdown: The Road to Prochazka vs. Pereira in New York

Jiri Prochazka makes his comeback to the octagon after a break of almost eighteen months with the goal of winning back the UFC light heavyweight title, which he has never lost. On November 11, the Czech will compete against Alex Pereira, the former middleweight champion, at UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden. In the US, ESPN+ PPV broadcasts the entire card.

Prochazka (29-3-1) is a gold medallist at the Muay Thai National Championships and a former RIZIN light heavyweight champion. He won the UFC light heavyweight title in June 2022 by defeating Glover Teixeira, and he was scheduled to defend it in a rematch when he got hurt. Since then, the light heavyweight championship has been contested, defended, given up once more, and is still vacant.

Prochazka is prepared to take the top spot again.

He is 2-0 at MSG and will take on Pereira (8-2) in an attempt to add yet another victory to his stellar record. Pereira is a former UFC middleweight champion. The Brazilian is a six-time MMA knockout champion in kickboxing.

Prochazka, 31, is aware of the might of his opponent and intends to prepare a special strategy for the fight.

Prochazka told UFC.com, “I can’t be too weird in my style like I was ’til now.” “I’m eager to face Alex, but I have to be more accurate, especially in a battle. I’m excited to battle Alex because I can see he takes his fighting seriously, which has helped me become a better fighter overall. I also feel that he has polished my body, spirit, and mind more than any other opponent. Facing him is an honour and a joy for someone like myself who approaches fighting in a similar way.

Aside from the main event, a number of competitors, including intriguing knockout and submission experts and New York residents, are vying for an interim title as they try to move up the ranks. This is an explanation of the entire main card of UFC 295 in detail.

UFC 295 undercard

Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall

• Division/Weight: Heavyweight
• Pavlovich record: 18-1
• Aspinall record: 13-3
• Belts at stake: Interim UFC heavyweight title

The co-main event will see Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall for the interim UFC heavyweight title.

Second in the rankings, Pavlovich (18-1) became a professional in 2014. The Russian, who was the heavyweight champion of Fight Nights Global, entered the UFC in 2018 but lost to Alistair Overeem in his debut match. Since then, Pavlovich has won six straight fights via knockout. In April, he defeated Curtis Blaydes via TKO in their most recent match.

The fourth-ranked Aspinall (13-3) made his pro debut in 2013. The fighter, who was born in Manchester and competed for BAMMA and Cage Warriors, signed with the UFC in 2020 and has since gone 6-1. When Aspinall placed his foot back on the canvas after a leg kick against Blaydes in July 2022, he tore his meniscus and MCL. When he played again in July, he defeated Marcin Tybura by TKO.

Jones vs. Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title was the main event of UFC 295; however, Jones was injured while training. After an eight-month layoff, “Bones” is scheduled to take against Miocic during International Fight Week.

Mackenzie Dern vs. Jessica Andrade

• Division/Weight: Strawweight
• Dern record: 13-3
• Andrade record: 24-12
• Belts at stake: N/A

Also on the card will be Mackenzie Dern vs. Jessica Andrade

Dern (13-3) is a seven-time gold medallist in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition. She has also won medals in submission grappling multiple times. The fighter who speaks Portuguese went pro in 2016 and signed a contract with the UFC in 2018. In the octagon, she is 8-3, and in her previous four fights, she is 2-2. In May, she defeated Angela Hill in a unanimous decision match in her prior competition.

Andrade (24–12) entered the UFC in 2013 after going professional in 2011. She is the UFC women’s record holder for most matches (25), having gone 15-10 in the octagon. “Bate Estaca” defeated Rose Namajunas to earn the strawweight title in the UFC, but Zhang Weili defeated her in her subsequent match. Since then, she has participated in numerous gold-winning matches and given Hill a serious competition as an active fighter; in 2023, she has already signed up for three battles.

Matt Frevola vs. Benoit Saint-Denis

• Division/Weight: Lightweight
• Frevola record: 11-3-1
• Saint-Denis record: 12-1, 1 NC
• Belts at stake: N/A

In lightweight action, Matt Frevola faces Benoit Saint-Denis.

New York native Frevola (11-3-1) is a lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. He turned pro in 2014 for the World Series of Fighting and competed on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017. “The Steamrolla” is 6-3-1 with the UFC and is on a three-fight win streak. His last fight was a TKO win against Drew Dober in May.

Saint-Denis (12-1, 1 NC) was a member of France’s 1st Marine Infantry Paratroopers Regiment. He turned pro in 2019 and competed in Brave CF before joining the UFC in 2021. Losing his octagon debut, Saint-Denis has won four in a row since. His last fight was a TKO win against Thiago Moises in France two months ago.

Diego Lopes vs. Pat Sabatini

• Division/Weight: Featherweight
• Lopes record: 22-6
• Sabatini record: 18-4
• Belts at stake: N/A

Opening the main card will be Diego Lopes vs. Pat Sabatini.

Lopes (22-6) became a professional in 2012. The Brazilian made his UFC comeback in 2023 after losing in his Dana White’s Contender Series debut in 2021. He defeated Gavin Tucker via submission in his most recent fight, which took place in August. He has lost his last two fights.

2014 saw Sabatini (18-4) go professional. The former two-time Cage Fury FC featherweight champion is 4-1 since joining the UFC in 2021. He bounced back from his 2022 defeat to Damon Jackson by defeating Lucas Almeida in his most recent bout in June.

When is UFC 295: Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira?

UFC 295 is on November 11. The early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET, with the prelims at 8 p.m. ET. The main card is at 10 p.m. ET. Prochazka and Pereira should make their way to the octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.

How to watch UFC 295: Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira