UFC

UFC 282: Jiri Prochazka vacates belt due to injury – Ankalaev vs. Blachowicz for the 205 title

Published

November 24, 2022

The highly anticipated UFC 282 main event between Jiri Prochazka and former champ Glover Teixiera is canceled. Prochazka pulled out due to a shoulder injury and vacated his light heavyweight title.

With Prochazka out, the promotion elevated Magomed Ankalaev vs. Jan Blachowicz from co-main event to the new UFC 282 main event. The bout will also have the light heavyweight title at stake.

“UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka has suffered a shoulder injury that will require a significant rehabilitation period,” the UFC said in a statement. “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.”

Jiri Prochazka has the “worst shoulder injury” in history

According to UFC president Dana White, the shoulder injury is very bad.

“This is the worst shoulder injury the doctors have seen in UFC history,” White told Yahoo Sports!. “It’s really fucking bad. His shoulder is very, very bad. He’s going to have serious surgery that will require extensive rehab.”

The UFC president praised Prochazka for the decision to vacate the light heavyweight title.

“We met with Jiri last night and listen, this guy is one of the classiest humans of all time,” White said. “He is such a warrior and was so bummed out. He brought up stepping aside to us before we ever got there. He’s going to be out a long time and at some point, we would probably have had to strip him. But he brought it up to us and said out of respect for the other fighters, he didn’t want to hold up the division. Let me tell you, that kid’s a stud, man, to react like that.”

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