UFC Vegas 54 weigh-in results - Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksandar Rakic

Jan Blachowicz reacts after getting vacant title shot against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 282

UFC light heavyweight contender Jan Blachowicz reacted after getting a vacant title shot against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 282.

As of a few days ago, the main event of UFC 282 was supposed to be champion Jiri Prochazka against challenger Glover Teixeira in a rematch. Unfortunately for the champion Prochazka, he suffered a serious shoulder injury in training recently. Instead of trying to fight through the injury, Prochazka is going to undergo surgery and then extensive rehabilitation which will keep him out for over a year. With Prochazka being out for so long, he did the honorable thing and vacated the UFC light heavyweight title, leaving other contenders at 205lbs to fight for the vacant belt instead.

The UFC did not wait long to book the new title fight. Blachowicz and Ankalaev were originally supposed to meet in an undercard bout, but instead, they have now been elevated to a five-round main event with the vacant title on the line. It’s a crazy turn of events for both fighters, who were supposed to fight in a non-title fight, but now have the opportunity to win the 205lbs belt.

Taking to his social media to react to the news he’s fighting for the belt, the former champ Blachowicz released a short statement. Check out what Blachowicz wrote on his Instagram below.

When the stars align all that is left is to act. Get well @jirkaprochazka! There’s still a battle to be had. #UFC282 #LegendaryPolishPower #JB13

For Blachowicz, it’s a chance to get back the belt he lost to Teixeira last year. Since then, the Pole has won just one fight, but it was a notable TKO victory over Aleksandar Rakic. As for Ankalaev, he’s won nine straight fights and clearly deserves to be in the title fight now that the belt is vacant.

Do you think Jan Blachowicz will defeat Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 282 and regain the UFC light heavyweight championship?

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Adam Martin
MMA journalist, podcast host, and handicapper for MyMMANews.com, MMAoddsbreaker.com, and Bookies.com. MMAOB Daily Podcast host. Join me LIVE @ 5 pm EST every Monday for my live free podcast. Over 10 years of experience writing about MMA. I love this sport.