Light heavyweight title bout at UFC 282 ends in split tie

The UFC’s light heavyweight championship will remain vacant after a title bout between Poland’s Jan Blachowicz and Russia’s Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 282 ended in a controversial split draw at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The headline event was initially supposed to be a bout between Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira, but Prochazka was forced to vacate his title due to a serious shoulder injury.

After a cautious opening round in which both title contenders took their time sounding each other out, Blachowicz peppered Ankalaev’s front leg with kicks and put the Russian under pressure in the second and third rounds.

Ankalaev responded excellently, dragging Blachowicz to the ground and raining down blows on the 39-year-old in the fourth and fifth rounds, and initially appeared to have done enough to secure the victory.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Jan Blachowicz (red gloves) fights Magomed Ankalaev (blue gloves) during UFC 282 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

However, judge Derek Cleary scored the fight 48-46 for Ankalaev, Mike Bell scored it 48-47 for Blachowicz, and Sal D’Amato was split down the middle at 47-47, leading to just the fifth draw in UFC history.

“I don’t know what to say; I won that fight,” Ankalaev, who appeared visibly upset at the decision to call the bout a draw, said with the help of a translator.

“Why didn’t I get my belt? I don’t know if I’ll fight for this organization again because I honestly don’t know what just happened. I don’t know what to say; maybe we’ll come back and take what is ours.”

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Jan Blachowicz (red gloves) fights Magomed Ankalaev (blue gloves) during UFC 282 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

In the act of sportsmanship, Blachowicz, who previously held the belt between September 2020 and October 2021, said the win should have been awarded to Ankalaev and tried to raise his opponent’s hand after the fight.

“I have to watch the fight again, but for sure, I did not win the fight. I don’t know if I lost the fight, but for sure, I’m not the winner,” Blachowicz added.

Paddy, “The Baddy” Pimblett, beat Jared Gordon in a lightweight bout in the co-main event. Still, the judges’ unanimous decision in favor of the Englishman failed to adequately tell the story of a bout in which he was pushed to the limit by his American opponent.

“Jared is tough; he’s a tough man,” Pimblett said. “He’s come back. Hats off to him. I knew I won the first and second, so I coasted in the third, not wanting to take any stupid risks.”

On the undercard, 18-year-old Raul Rosas Jr became the youngest fighter to win a UFC bout, beating Jay Perrin via submission on his debut.