Jiri Prochazka injured, vacates UFC light heavyweight title
UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has vacated his title after sustaining “a shoulder injury that will require a significant rehabilitation period,” the UFC announced on Wednesday following an initial report from Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports.
BREAKING: Jiri Prochazka PUT of UFC 282 with serious injury. Glover turned down title fight. Jiri vacated. New main event is Blachowicz vs Ankalaev. Story soon on @YahooSports
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) November 23, 2022
Prochazka, who defeated former champion Glover Teixeira at UFC 275 to win the title in June, was set to face him again at UFC 282 on December 10.
As a result, Prochazka has vacated the UFC light heavyweight title and the UFC has promoted a light heavyweight fight between ex-champ Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev to the main event.
UFC statement below:
UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has suffered a shoulder injury that will require a significant rehabilitation period. Out of respect to the athletes and the division, Prochazka has elected to vacate his title and will compete for the belt as soon as he is medically cleared.
As a result, the new UFC 282 main event will see former champion and No. 2 ranked Jan Blachowicz take on surging No. 3 ranked Magomed Ankalaev for the vacant, undisputed UFC light heavyweight championship.
A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with legendary knockout power, Blachowicz has finished four of his last six wins in emphatic fashion and looks to recapture his lost crown with another signature victory. Ankalaev is currently riding the second-longest win streak in UFC light heavyweight history with nine victories, including five via finish, and plans to extend his streak by claiming his first UFC title.
Due to a change in the main event, refunds will be available at point of sale. UFC 282: BLACHOWICZ vs ANKALAEV takes place Saturday, December 10 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
