The UFC light-heavyweight title remained vacant as Magomed Ankalaev and Jan Blachowicz fought to a split draw,
Ankalaev and Blachowicz were competing for the title at UFC 282 after former champion Jiri Prochazka opted to vacate the belt having suffered the " worst shoulder injury in history ". The Czech was scheduled to defend the belt in a rematch against Glover Teixeira following their epic title fight in June, of which Prochazka won in one of the latest stoppages in UFC title fight history.
Blachowicz was attacking the legs of Ankalaev as the fight got underway, but the Dagestani looked the sharper of the two on the feet. Neither fighter landed anything significant in the first five minutes as boos echoed around the T-Mobile Arena at the end of the round.
Midway through the second round, Blachowicz put Ankalaev down by landing a good low kick but he sprung back to his feet and didn't look hurt. Ankalaev had his best moment of the fight in the third round but putting together a good flurry, but was hobbling one leg just moments after as Blachowicz landing another good low kick.
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Referee Marc Goddard halted the action when Ankalaev kneed Blachowicz to the groin, with the Dagestani not being deducted a point as it was accidental. Ankalaev got Blachowicz to the mat in the fourth round and came close to securing a rear-naked choke, but the former champion defended well.
Ankalaev started the final round with a flurry of punches that floored Blachowicz and he pounced on the Pole to control him on the ground. The Dagestani continued to land punches from half guard until the final bell but neither Ankalaev or Blachowicz were crowned champion as the three judges saw it 47-48, 48-46 and 47-47.
Blachowicz was looking to win the back the 205lb title against Ankalaev having lost it to Teixeira last October. The Pole captured the belt after longtime champion Jon Jones vacated it in 2020, with Blachowicz's lone defence of the title coming against former middleweight king Israel Adesanya.
Ankalaev was unbeaten in nine fights heading into his clash with Blachowicz, as the Dagestani had already picked up impressive wins against former title challengers Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith this year. Ankalaev's only loss in MMA prior to the title clash came against Paul Craig four years ago, as he was submitted with one second after winning most of the fight.
