There will be no UFC light heavyweight champion heading into the New Year. Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev fought to a split draw in a competitive main event at UFC 282 in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.
There were two relatively clear rounds for each fighter with Round 1 being a toss-up. Blachowicz took over in Rounds 2 and 3, severely compromising Ankalaev's legs with crunching leg kicks. Blachowicz caused Ankalaev to limp multiple times in Round 2 with nasty low kicks to Ankalaev's right leg. Ankalaev was forced to switch from southpaw to orthodox in Round 3, but Blachowicz's leg kicks also compromised Ankalaev's left leg.
Ankalaev successfully turned the tide in the final two rounds. Ankalaev scored early takedowns in rounds four and five, trapping Blachowicz and landing strikes. The impact landed by Ankalaev was more severe in the fifth round than it was in the fourth.
Shockingly, one judge awarded the fight to Blachowicz and a second judge proclaimed Ankalaev the winner. The final judge considered the fight dead even, resulting in a split draw. All three judges gave Blachowicz Round 1. Judge Derek Cleary dissented in Round 3, the only judge to award the round to Ankalaev. Judge Sal D'Amato gave Ankalaev a 10-8 in Round 5, resulting in a draw.
Blachowicz was disappointed in his performance post-fight. The former UFC light heavyweight champion said he would need to rewatch the fight, but told UFC commentator Joe Rogan that Ankalaev deserved to be champion. Ankalaev agreed, through a translator, insisting he was the rightful winner.
The draw was just the fifth time it has happened in UFC championship history. It joins Caol Uno vs. B.J. Penn II, Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II, Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen Thompson I, and Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno I.
Unsurprisingly, UFC president Dana White was less than thrilled with the result of the main event. White said the main event was "terrible" and that he "zoned out after three rounds." Because of the frustration with how everything played out, White and company called an audible and added Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill to UFC 283 in January with the vacant title up for grabs.
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UFC 282 card and results
- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Jan Blachowicz ends in a split draw (48-47, 47-48, 47-47)
- Paddy Pimblett def. Jared Gordon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Santiago Ponzinibbio def. Alex Morono via third-round knockout (punches)
- Dricus Du Plessis def. Darren Till via third-round submission (rear naked choke)
- Ilia Topuria def. Bryce Mitchell via second-round submission (arm triangle)
- Raul Rosas Jr. def. Jay Perrin via first-round submission (rear naked choke)
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik def. Chris Daukaus via first-round knockout (punches)
- Edmen Shahbazyan def. Dalcha Lungiambula via second-round TKO (knee, punches)
- Chris Curtis def. Joaquin Buckley via second-round knockout (punches)
- Billy Quarantillo def. Alexander Hernandez via second-round TKO (punches)
- T.J. Brown def. Erik Silva via third-round submission (arm-triangle)
- Cameron Saaiman def. Steven Koslow via third-round TKO (punches)