Jon Anik ‘not surprised’ by Jon Jones UFC 295 withdrawal: ‘I just thought it was ambitious, with respect’

Following Jon Jones’ withdrawal from UFC 295, many were not entirely surprised and it has resulted in an intriguing interim heavyweight championship on Saturday.

Jones was set to defend his title against Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden, but a torn pectoral muscle forced the championship fight to be postponed. In its place, Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall will battle in the co-main event for an interim title.

UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik, who will call the action on Saturday, shared his initial reaction to the news.

“Not surprised, with respect,” Anik told MMA Fighting. “I thought it was ambitious to suggest that Jon Jones after that type of extended layoff would compete at UFC 285 in March and then be able to turn it round again in early November. I just thought it was ambitious, with respect.

“You know how seriously Jon Jones takes all of these championship fights. No man, nor woman has won as many title fights as Jon Jones and that really is the only biggest record that actually matters, but I have to wonder aloud, was this injury preventable, had he been in the gym for every minute that he possibly could be dating to that past title [fight] — and I’m not necessarily suggesting that that’s the right recipe for success either — but I’m not surprised that this fight did not necessarily materialize. “

At present, there’s no official time frame to reschedule the Jones vs. Miocic fight, and UFC CEO Dana White’s announcement suggests Jones could face up to eight months of recovery time.

While Pavlovich and Aspinall may not have the same level of fame as Jones and Miocic, the matchup between these surging contenders is incredibly fascinating.

Anik is excited to call the fight and is hopeful the heavyweight division can move forward by the summer of 2024.

“I do hope that they can make this fight [between Jones and Miocic], and rather expeditiously inside of 10 months because it is a little bit muddy now with the UFC interim heavyweight champion set to be crowned here [at UFC 295],” Anik said. “Now we’re gonna get Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich. Is that not just a massive, massive heavyweight fight in 2023?

“You can’t help but just smile as an MMA fan. That fight is absolutely enormous and without any build up, the intrigue is just through the roof on that one for me, Obviously, it’s a legacy fight between Jon Jones and Stipe, and I know I’m getting a little bit animated here, but Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall you can argue right now are the two best heavyweights in the world, smack dab in the middle of their primes, primal, ready to kill and defend every three months. I do like that.

“There’s going to be movement, I love the fact that those guys signed on the dotted line, and I’m fascinated to see where the betting line closes and everything else with that fight. I hope I don’t sound like a promoter, but I know you feel me on how big that fight is.

“Gosh, I can’t wait for that fight, and I do think the UFC will be able to un-muddy the muddy waters when it comes to the championship, and the pecking order, and all of that. Hopefully, Jon Jones gets healthy with the pectoral.”