Blachowicz-Ankalaev leaves 205-pound title picture in a lurch

Chuck Liddell. Randy Couture. Tito Ortiz. "Rampage" Jackson. Daniel Cormier. Jon Jones.

The UFC airy heavyweight part has been location to immoderate of the biggest stars and champion fighters successful promotion history. The Liddell vs. Ortiz and Couture vs. Liddell bid of fights helped physique the UFC into the juggernaut it is today. The Jones-Cormier rivalry is arguably the top successful MMA history. Jones himself was the anchor of 205 pounds for astir a decade.

Light heavyweight was erstwhile the UFC's glamour division, wherever each rubric combat was a spectacle that crossed implicit into the mainstream and aboriginal Hall of Famers dotted the rankings. Ever since Jones relinquished the rubric much than 2 years ago, though, things person been a spot of a mess. The latest illustration being the UFC 282 main lawsuit betwixt Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev for the vacant loop going to a divided draw. The twelvemonth 2022 volition extremity without anyone holding the UFC airy heavyweight belt.

Jones gave up the rubric successful August 2020, arsenic helium prepared for a determination to heavyweight (which, by the way, inactive has not happened successful earnest). Blachowicz past knocked retired Dominick Reyes to go champion. Reyes was the young stud who astir bushed Jones - galore had him winning the determination - and seemed similar the heir apparent. Instead, Blachowicz blasted him and went connected to support successfully against then-middleweight champ Israel Adesanya, 1 of the biggest stars successful the UFC. Glover Teixeira, past 42 years old, stunned Blachowicz successful October 2021 to go the second-oldest champion successful promotion history.

The divisional rubric representation seemed to beryllium righted earlier this year. Teixeira and Jiří Procházka had an all-time great, bloody warfare which Procházka managed to decorativeness precocious successful the 5th circular to triumph the belt. Procházka, an eccentric enactment combatant hailing from the Czech Republic who presents himself similar a modern-day samurai, seemed similar the benignant of champion the UFC could get behind. Then, catastrophe struck again conscionable 2 weeks ago.

Procházka suffered a atrocious enarthrosis injury, 1 that would support him retired an extended period, earlier a planned Teixeira rematch, which was to header UFC 282. Procházka relinquished the loop owed to his apt agelong layoff and recovery. The UFC offered Teixeira a bout with Ankalaev for the vacant title, but Teixeira said he'd alternatively person much clip to look him. Ankalaev was expected to instrumentality connected Blachowicz successful the co-main lawsuit of UFC 282. So, with Teixeira declining that offer, the UFC bumped Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev to the main lawsuit of the pay-per-view paper and enactment the rubric connected the line.

Got each that? Well, there's a spot more. Blachowicz and Anakalev had a hard-fought conflict with Blachowicz doing large harm to Ankalaev's legs aboriginal connected with kicks and Ankalaev rallying precocious with his hands and his wrestling. Ankalaev's 10-8 circular successful the 5th ended up resulting successful a divided draw.

No winner. No champion. Again.

The past two-plus years person been bizarre for the apical of the airy heavyweight division. And its longtime champion Jones hasn't fought since February 2020 erstwhile helium past defended the 205-pound gold. Maybe "Bones" and that loop were conscionable made for each other. -- Raimondi

Ilia Topuria is simply a five-tool prima connected the rise

Wagenheim: Ilia Topuria took a large measurement toward becoming a starring antheral successful the men's featherweight part by showing helium tin bash it all. He tin onslaught with his fists and his legs. He tin grapple. And nary little important, helium tin prime a combat and prosecute the fans' interest.

Topuria made a connection by ending Saturday's conflict of unbeatens by choking retired Mitchell, a grappling savant, past repeated that connection verbally, proclaiming, "I knew I was amended than him connected the crushed and successful standup -- anywhere." If you conscionable watched the finish, you mightiness hold without hesitation. But it should beryllium noted that by the clip Mitchell tapped out, helium was a ammunition of himself, aft being battered by punches for the entirety of the fight.

Still, Topuria was the 1 who emerged from this crossroads gathering with his way starring upward. And it was not wholly due to the fact that of his show wrong the cage. During combat week, helium drew attraction to himself by repeatedly engaging with Pimblett, arguably the biggest prima astatine UFC 282. Had Topuria not followed up by coming done connected combat night, each the trash speech with "The Baddy" would person been for naught. But Topuria did travel through, and astatine 13-0, helium present is connected his way.

It's early, but UFC has thing successful Rosas

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Raul Rosas Jr. wins his UFC debut implicit Jay Perrin with a submission via rear-naked choke.

Raimondi: Forget the fight. Forget the finish. Go backmost and perceive to the absorption Raul Rosas Jr. got erstwhile helium entered T-Mobile Arena connected Saturday for his UFC debut. Coming disconnected Dana White's Contender Series, the imaginable of the now-18-year-old combatant was clear. He was lone 17 connected the amusement and fought similar a 10-year veteran. His grappling is disconnected the charts and helium utilized his wrestling good astatine UFC 282. Undoubtedly, he's 1 of the champion prospects successful the world. His upside is unlimited.

But nary 1 realized during Contender Series, which takes spot chiefly without fans astatine the UFC Apex, that Rosas, a Las Vegas resident, is simply a burgeoning star. T-Mobile Arena erupted during his entrance. Rosas was calved successful the United States but represents Mexico, his parents' location country. Mexican fans were waving each implicit the building. And erstwhile Rosas choked retired Jay Perrin, the assemblage went brainsick again. The UFC has a imaginable box-office gully successful the United States and Mexico, which is somewhat unexpected.

As for Rosas, helium gets it. In his postfight interrogation with Joe Rogan, Rosas said helium wanted the $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus truthful that helium could bargain his parent a minivan and she could springiness him a assistance to the UFC Performance Institute. The kid was savvy capable and humble capable to person a small amusive with his age. Daniel Cormier said it champion connected commentary. You can't inquire for a amended UFC debut, from the entranceway to the combat to the decorativeness to the postfight interview.

What's adjacent for apical prospects aft UFC 282

Paddy Pimblett, lightweight (defeated Jared Gordon by unanimous decision)

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Paddy Pimblett and Jared Gordon springiness the Vegas fans their money's worthy successful Round 1 of their co-main bout.

Who should beryllium next: Christos Giagos

Pimblett got the occupation done, which is the astir important happening -- but determination is nary mode anyone tin ticker this show and accidental he's acceptable for a large measurement up successful competition. It whitethorn person been successful defeat, but Gordon gave Pimblett a batch to deliberation astir coming retired of this one.

Looking astatine Giagos, it mightiness look similar I'm trying to propulsion Pimblett a definite win, but look closer. Yes, Giagos is coming disconnected back-to-back losses, but they were to large opponents successful Arman Tsarukyan and Thiago Moises. He's been successful the UFC for astir 5 years. He'll springiness Pimblett a fight, but a winnable combat -- and if you're the UFC, that's what you want. This isn't boxing and it's not astir mounting Pimblett up with a definite thing, but it is astir continuing to physique a feline the close mode and enactment him successful positions to succeed. Eventually, the clip is going to travel for a large measurement up successful competition, but it's not close now.

Wildcard: Clay Guida

How astir it? Guida is specified an established name, he's a pioneer. He demands each the respect successful the world. He's a shot of vigor and helium could grip himself successful a combat build-up with Pimblett. You're telling maine this wouldn't beryllium a great, high-energy combat for the UK fans successful March? This mightiness really beryllium the one, the much you deliberation astir it.

Ilia Topuria, featherweight (defeated Bryce Mitchell by second-round submission)

Who should beryllium next: Giga Chikadze

Oh yes. What a fight. Honestly, determination are galore bully fights retired determination for Topuria. This part is terrific. But Topuria is the existent deal, determination is nary uncertainty astir it. But determination are a batch of 'real deals' astatine 145 pounds. I can't crown him a aboriginal featherweight champ conscionable yet, but wow. What a show by Topuria, and it conscionable extends what he's already been doing successful the UFC. His benignant is entertaining and it's hard to woody with. It's clean. He's tactful and he's ultra-capable of hurting you. A combat against Chikadze could easy main lawsuit a UFC Fight Night. Chikadze is inactive a menace astatine this weight, contempt a important setback successful his past outing against Calvin Kattar. This combat would beryllium fire.

Wildcard: Sodiq Yusuff

Yusuff was really ranked down Mitchell going into this weekend, but that shouldn't beryllium a problem. Obviously, Topuria volition privation arsenic highly ranked of an hostile arsenic helium tin get, but Yusuff is close determination astir the apical 10 and he's an established commodity astatine this weight. Stylistically, this is different occurrence matchup. Competitive. Speed and method vs. velocity and technique. Have I mentioned however overmuch I emotion the featherweight division?

Raul Rosas Jr., bantamweight (defeated Jay Perrin by first-round submission)

Who should beryllium next: The bottommost of the UFC's roster

That debut near maine a small speechless. I cognize Rosas Jr. has skills and he's a large prospect, but you are NOT expected to locomotion into T-Mobile Arena with that assurance level, past propulsion astir an eight-year seasoned astatine 18 years old. That does not happen, guys. Incredible.

Now, what's adjacent for Rosas Jr.? Whoever is connected the chopping artifact successful the UFC's 135-pound division. As insane arsenic that debut was, Rosas Jr. inactive needs time. Maybe helium is truthful overmuch the existent woody that helium volition triumph a title wrong the adjacent 3 years and go the adjacent Jon Jones. But you can't accidental that aft 1 fight. Don't expect the UFC to publication him against anyone excessively brainsick excessively fast, which is 100,000 percent the close mode to bash it. Let this kid develop, due to the fact that he's got thing special. In the aforesaid way, you'd fto a precocious schoolhouse kid who throws 100mph make into an MLB starter. Build him. Let him combat frequently. He wants that and helium conscionable steamrolled his archetypal opponent. March successful Vegas, let's spot him again.

Dricus Du Plessis, middleweight (defeated Darren Till by third-round submission)

Who should beryllium next: Derek Brunson

It's pronounced Du Ple-See! Learn the sanction and don't forget. A breakout show by Du Plessis, contempt that dicey 2nd against Darren Till. The South African has shown imaginable since signing with the UFC 2 years ago, and it's clip to spot precisely however helium fits successful this division. Brunson was expected to look Jack Hermansson past week successful Orlando, but had to retreat with an limb injury. However, his betterment timeframe is not long, and this combat makes sense. According to ESPN's rankings, Brunson is ranked No. 7 successful the division, but is coming disconnected a nonaccomplishment and needs to support that rank. Du Plessis is cleanable successful the Octagon frankincense acold and deserving of a measurement up. This would beryllium a large trial for him and a accidental for Brunson to recapture immoderate occurrence against a surging contender.

Wildcard: Winner of Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland connected Dec. 17

Whoever wins adjacent week's main event, it makes consciousness to brace with Du Plessis, due to the fact that determination volition apt beryllium an contiguous rematch astatine the apical betwixt champion Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya. Robert Whittaker is up determination arsenic well, but helium has a combat successful Perth and he's already beaten Cannonier. So, for the involvement of caller matchups, timing and rankings, it would marque consciousness to brace Du Plessis with the victor of adjacent week's fight.