Jiri Prochazka Vacates Title & New UFC 282 Main Event

It wouldn’t be the UFC in 2022 without a late twist to the main event of the final pay-per-view of the year. Jiri Prochazka has vacated his Light Heavyweight Championship after suffering “the worst shoulder injury in UFC history,” according to President Dana White.

Prochazka was due to defend his belt in a rematch with former champion Glover Teixeira at UFC 282 but opted to vacate his title to avoid holding up the division.

Prochazka won the title earlier this year when he choked out Teixeira in the fifth round of what many believe was the best UFC title fight in the history of the promotion.

This means that we have a new UFC 282 main event with former Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz’s (3.00) squaring off against Magomed Ankalaev (1.42) for the vacant 205lb belt. The two were scheduled to fight in the co-main event with the winner most likely earning themselves a title shot.

Blachowicz has finished four of his last six wins and looks to recapture his crown at UFC 282. Ankalaev currently has the second-longest win streak in UFC light heavyweight history with nine victories, including five via finish, and plans to extend his streak by claiming his first UFC title in Las Vegas.

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