UFC 282 results, highlights: Jan Blachowicz, Magomed Ankalaev battle to a split draw, title remains vacant

The five-round battle ended in an unsatisfactory manner after many believed Ankalaev had done enough to win

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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CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the UFC 282 below.

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)

[Dec 11, 2022 at 1:12 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Official result: Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev ends in a split draw (48–47, 46–48, 47–47). The UFC light heavyweight championship will remain vacant.

[Dec 11, 2022 at 1:08 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev -- Round 5: This round will determine the winner by my estimation. Some sort of collision in the early moments of the final round resulted in Blachowicz on his back. Blachowicz tried to get back to his feet but was stifled. Ankalaev settled back into the guard and Blachowicz crossed his feet. Blachowicz crawled to the fence but unable to get up as Ankalaev opened up with punches and elbows in close. Unofficial score: 10-9 Ankalaev (48-47 overall for Ankalaev)

[Dec 11, 2022 at 1:00 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev -- Round 4: Ankalaev immediately pressed Blachowicz to the fence to neutralize those painful leg kicks. Blachowicz managed to break free but was barrelled over by Ankalaev not too long after. Ankalaev settled into Blachowicz's closed guard. Blachowicz scooted to the fence but Ankalaev took his back. Ankalaev isolated Blachowicz's leg with a grapevine and softened Ankalaev up with punches. Anakalev remained in top control for the remainder of the round and landed more strikes despite not landing anything too significant. Ankalaev closed the round with a few hard punches. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Ankalaev (38-38 draw overall)

[Dec 11, 2022 at 12:56 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev -- Round 3: Blachowicz immediately returned to those hard low kicks, forcing Ankalaev to switch from his preferred southpaw stance to orthodox. Ankalaev landed a nice overhand right but Blachowicz responded with a hard body kick and more leg strikes. Ankalaev started successfully finding the range with his orthodox jab but whiffed on a huge uppercut. Blachowicz partially landed with a head kick. Both guys threw simultaneously with Ankalaev landing a nice right hand on the exit. Two hard leg kicks to Ankalaev's left leg had him limping. A knee from Ankalaev caught Blachowicz low and paused the fight with 45 seconds left in the round. Ankalaev got a takedown late but did nothing with it. Unofficial score: 10-9 Blachowicz (29-28 overall for Blachowicz)

[Dec 11, 2022 at 12:46 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev -- Round 2: Ankalaev landed a decent head kick, Blachowicz returned fire with a nice punch. Blachowicz repeatedly threw kicks to the leg and they eventually took a toll. A leg kick by Blachowicz put Ankalaev off balance and a second one nearly took Ankalaev off his feet. Ankalaev initiated a clinch for reprieve but Blachowicz broke free shortly after. Ankalaev landed a nice right hand that backed up Blachowicz. Unofficial score: 10-9 Blachowicz (19-19 draw overall)

[Dec 11, 2022 at 12:41 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev -- Round 1: Both guys took their time getting reads on their opponents. Leg kicks and body kicks were occasionally exchanged on both sides. Ankalaev pressed forward and landed a decent left straight from the southpaw stance. Ankalaev appeared to have the speed advantage and used it to land counter shots. Ankalaev landed another left straight but Blachowicz returned with a body kick. Blachowicz's power was apparent despite his inability to land frequently on Ankalaev. The strikes that did land bruised Ankalaev under his right eye. A close first round. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Ankalaev

[Dec 11, 2022 at 12:31 am ET · Brandon Wise]

Both fighters have made their way to the ring, with equally terrifying music in the background, and it's just about time to crown a new champion. Should be interesting for as long as it lasts. Remember, this fight was scheduled for three rounds originally before moving to five for the title when Jiri Prochazka was forced to vacate the title and withdraw from his defense against Glover Teixeira during Thanksgiving week.

[Dec 11, 2022 at 12:22 am ET · Brandon Wise]

And now it's time for the final fight of the night. The vacant light heavyweight title is on the line when Jan Blachowicz meets Magomed Ankalaev in the main event. Blachowicz attempts to grab the belt for a second time while Ankalaev looks to extend his winning streak to 10 and become a first-time titleholder.

[Dec 11, 2022 at 12:16 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Official result: Paddy Pimblett def. Jared Gordon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

[Dec 11, 2022 at 12:14 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon -- Round 3: Gordon shot for a takedown almost immediately. Pimblett tried to snatch a kimura but Gordon dumped him on his face. The first three minutes of the round were contested against the fence with Gordon hunting for a takedown. Pimblett landed a handful of elbows and a pair of knees, but not much was landed for either fighter. A left hand on the break landed for Gordon. Pimblett was muscled to the fence again shortly after. Gordon landed a takedown and took the back but was too high and slipped off. A scramble ensued and Pimblett got a hook in standing. Pimblett landed a few punches and took the back, but couldn't do anything with it. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Pimblett (29-28 overall for Pimblett) 

[Dec 11, 2022 at 12:08 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon -- Round 2: Pimblett's corner called for him to stop looping so much on the punches. Both guys exchanged leg kicks. A high kick by Pimblett was partially blocked but had an effect. Pimblett with front kicks to the body. A nice counter uppercut by Pimblett. Gordon landed a leg kick and then checked one. Gordon ducked and uncorked left hands. Pimblett with a nice shot to the body, Gordon responded with a left to the head and knee to the body. Pimblett snatched a sneaky side choke but Gordon wiggled free. Gordon controlled Pimblett against the fence with head position and uncorked a few punches. Pimblett fled and returned with a big right hand. Gordon landed two solid left hooks. Pimblett partially landed the right hook. A nice right hand by Gordon. Pimblett responded with an uppercut but then ate another shot from the Octagon veteran. Pimblett got Gordon against the fence and threw big punches and kicks. Gordon absorbed them well and fired back with hooks. An eye poke paused the fight with 14 seconds left. Referee Herb Dean gave Pimblett a hard warning about keeping his fingers extended. A nice left-hand and body kick ended the round well for Pimblett. That could have gone either way. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Pimblet (19-19 overall)

[Dec 11, 2022 at 12:00 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon -- Round 1: A touch of gloves kicked things off. Pimblett immediately took the center, landed a body kick and threw one to the head. A huge step in left hook landed for Gordon but Pimblett was unphased. Another left hand landed and backed Pimblett up a touch. Gordon landed with two leg kicks and Pimblett returned one of his own. Chants of "Paddy the Baddy" broke out in the crowd. Two more left hands landed clean for Gordon. A body combination was punctuated with a really nice right hand for Gordon. Pimblett hit a low kick and Gordon returned fire with a one-two. An uppercut by Pimblett got through the guard. Another left hook for Gordon. Pimblett keeping his chin up was causing a problem and his corner called for him to better protect it. A sneaky switch kick partially landed for Pimblett. Another head kick by Pimblett. Gordon clipped him again with the left hook. A hard straight right split Gordon's guard. Gordon briefly went to a knee but it was hard to tell if it was a slip or knockdown. Both guys swung wildly. Gordon hit a takedown and landed in guard with 20 seconds left. Pimblett tried for a gogoplata but abandoned it. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Gordon

[Dec 10, 2022 at 11:42 pm ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon is tonight's co-main event, but very much the people's main event. The controversial, brash Pimblett has quickly emerged as an attraction for the UFC thanks to his big personality and penchant for exciting fights. Gordon is Pimblett's most experienced UFC opponent by far, fighting against the likes of Charles Oliveira and Grant Dawson in 11 Octagon appearances.