Blachowicz-Ankalaev ruled draw; title still vacant

LAS VEGAS -- The UFC mislaid its airy heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka to wounded successful November. UFC 282 was expected to crown his successor. Unfortunately, it did not.

Former champion Jan Blachowicz (29-9-1) and Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1) fought to a five-round divided gully successful the main lawsuit of UFC connected Saturday wrong T-Mobile Arena. Judge Mike Bell scored the bout 48-47 for Blachowicz, portion justice Derek Cleary had it 48-46 for Ankalaev. A 3rd judge, Sal D'Amato, scored it 47-47, resulting successful the divided draw.

Immediately aft the fight, Blachowicz really appeared to rise Ankalaev's hand, arsenic if conceding defeat. In fact, Ankalaev would person mislaid the bout were it not for a ascendant 5th round. Judges Cleary and D'Amato scored the last circular 10-8 for Ankalaev. Had they not, Ankalaev would person mislaid a divided decision.

"I person to ticker the fight, but for definite I didn't win," Blachowicz said. "I don't cognize if I mislaid the fight, but I'm not the winner."

Ankalaev, of Dagestan, who was heavy favored going in, adamantly said helium felt helium won.

"I cognize what to say," said Ankalaev, done a translator. "I won that fight. Why didn't I get my belt? I don't cognize what to say."

As a effect of the divided draw, the part is present successful a spot of a mess. Prochazka (29-3-1) is retired indefinitely with a terrible enarthrosis injury, which helium conscionable suffered past month. The 30-year-old willingly gave up the loop successful bid to let the part to determination on. He's expected to beryllium retired astatine slightest until mid-2023.

It was expected erstwhile champion Glover Teixeira would look the victor of Saturday's rubric fight, but that's evidently up successful the aerial present that determination is nary winner. Teixeira watched the rubric combat from the beforehand enactment connected Saturday.

The title bout was defined by a large plaything of momentum astir the 4th round. Blachowicz severely wounded Ankalaev's pb close limb with kicks successful the 2nd round, forcing Ankalaev to wantonness his earthy southpaw stance and combat chiefly orthodox. Blachowicz continued to capsicum Ankalaev's legs with success.

In the 4th round, however, Ankalaev turned astir exclusively to a wrestling-based strategy. He changeable into Blachowicz's hips and held him against the fence. Eventually, it did look arsenic if Blachowicz grew fatigued from the grappling and spent overmuch of the last 2 rounds disconnected his back. Again, the 5th circular was peculiarly ascendant for Ankalaev.

According to UFC Stats, Ankalaev outlanded Blachowicz 182-79 successful full strikes. He besides racked up much than 11 minutes of power time, compared with zero for Blachowicz. Ankalaev was lone palmy connected 2 of 10 takedown attempts; Blachowicz did not effort a azygous takedown.

The gully interrupted a nine-fight winning streak for Ankalaev. Blachowicz surrendered the rubric to Teixeira successful a submission nonaccomplishment successful 2021, but rebounded with a TKO triumph implicit Aleksandar Rakic successful May.