Jiri Prochazka from UFC 282, vacating the title; Magomed Ankalayev fights against Jan Balashovich for the vacant belt

Jerry Prochazkarematch with Glover Teixeira will not happen in UFC 282 After Prochazka suffered a “shoulder injury that will require a significant period of rehabilitation,” the UFC announced on Wednesday following an initial report from… Hey ho! sports.

As a result of the scratch, Prochazka vacated the UFC light heavyweight title and the UFC encouraged a light heavyweight fight between the former champion Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev to the main event of the December 10 pay-per-view, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Blachowicz and Ankalaev will fight for the vacant light heavyweight title. The UFC is offering refunds to original main event ticket holders.

“Out of respect for his athletes and the division, Prochazka has elected to vacate his title and will compete for the belt once it is medically cleared,” the UFC said in a prepared statement sent to MMA Fighting.

according to ESPN.comThe nature of the injury may require up to one year of recovery time. A person close to Prochazka, who declined to be named publicly due to the sensitivity of the fighter’s situation, confirmed that the injury was to the now former champion’s shoulder. The person said the injury would require surgery and added that “it will be a long way back unfortunately”.

MMA Fighting could not immediately reach Teixeira to comment on the change.

The former heavyweight champ was reportedly set to defend his first title in a rematch for the “Fight of the Year” nominee against former champ Teixeira, who lost via fifth-round submission in their first meeting, a back-and-forth slugfest in June at UFC 275.

Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev winner is in a prime position to compete for the title. Blachowicz, who ceded the belt to Teixeira in 2021, called out Prochazka immediately after the Czech fighter won the championship title. But the new champion decided instead to step back from his fight with Teixeira, wanting to correct what he felt was the worst performance of his career.

Here is the UFC’s full statement on Prochazka’s injury and the new main event at UFC 282:

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jiri Prochazka has suffered a shoulder injury that requires a major rehabilitation period. Out of respect for the athletes and the division, Prochazka has elected to vacate his title and will compete for the belt once it is medically cleared.

As a result, the new main event at UFC 282 will see former champion and second seed Jan Blachowicz take on #3 ranked Magomed Ankalaev for the vacant UFC Undisputed Heavyweight Championship.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt With legendary knockout power, Blachowicz has finished off four of his last six wins in emphatic fashion and looks to reclaim his lost crown with another signature win. Ankalaev is currently riding the second longest winning streak in UFC lightweight history with nine wins, including five by 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 the point of sale. UFC 282: BLACHOWICZ vs ANKALAEV takes place on Saturday, December 10 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.