Former champion Jan Blachowicz got the chance to reclaim the title against top-ranked contender Magomed Ankalaev in the headlining bout of UFC 282.
UFC 282: Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev
Round 1
Blachowicz with an outside leg kick. Another one to the inside. Blachowicz goes to the body with the jab. Nice low kick and another by Jan. Nice counter right from Ankalaev. They both keep their distance while trying to exchange. Good overhand right from Blachowicz. Ankalaev pressures with the jab. Blachowicz with a body kick. Good counter by Ankalaev. Front kick by Ankalaev to the body. Short left hook from Jan. Ankalaev making good work of the front kick to the body. Blachowicz chopping away at the lead leg.
Round 2
Blachowicz comes out firing and blocks a fast high kick. Big right lands for Blachowicz. Ankalaev continues working at the body with that front kick. Jan lands a left hook. Jan with an Innside low kick. Blachowicz blitzes in with multiple short uppercuts. Ankalaev gets a short left through.Blachowicz hurt Ankalaev with a strong leg kick. Ankalaev is hurt and can barely stand. He goes for a single leg and gets Jan off the fence. Jan gets away. Ankalaev switches stances. Blachowicz chops away at the other leg now. Nice right hand from Ankalaev lands. Ankalaev shoots for a takedown and ends the round off the fence.
Round 3
Blachowicz gets him with a jab. He goes back for that leg and Ankalaev is clearly hurt here. He can’t stand on that beat up leg. Blachowicz fires a huge low kick. Strong right overhand from Ankalaev. Good jab by Ankalaev. Sharp counter left from Ankalaev. Ankalaev turns up the pressure now. Jan with a jab. Low kicks by Blachowicz have both of Ankalaev’s legs seriously hurt. Ankalaev goes for a takedown. He has both of his legs compromised. He keeps grappling against the cage. Blachowicz gets out, eats a body kick. Ankalaev shoots again and goes low. Time out. Ankalaev pins Jan against the cage. He gets Jan down.
Round 4
Ankalaev comes out firing. Ankalaev closes the distance and grapples with Jan against the cage. Jan gets out. Ankalaev shoots and gets a takedown. He takes top position and gets light strikes in. Ankalaev gets his back and tries to lock in a submission from the back. Ankalaev does well to keep Blachowicz down on the mat. He continues landing light strikes from the top. Big shots coming down from Ankalaev.
Round 5
Ankalaev goes for the takedown and blitzed Jan, who overreacted and fell, to get top position. Jan unable to get up gets Ankalaev in full guard. Ankalaev lands nice strikes from the top. Blachowicz looking for a Kimora but doesn’t get it. Ankalaev has him pinned and keeps laying the ground and pound. Ankalaev lands some big shots. A barrage of punches and elbows from Ankalaev might call a stoppage here. Jan struggling to defend here. Ankalaev gets on top and keeps throwing his elbows.
Official Result: Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev ends in a split draw (48-47, 48-46, 47-47).
Check out the highlights below:
Takes a hell of a man to lay it out like that. 👏
Absolute class as always from 🇵🇱 @JanBlachowicz. #UFC282 pic.twitter.com/d06fnfG8EP
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) December 11, 2022
The #UFC282 main event ends in a split draw. pic.twitter.com/ym9PvdFgDs
— UFC (@ufc) December 11, 2022
The main event will be decided by the judges scorecards – who do you think leaves #UFC282 LHW champion? pic.twitter.com/PcPEK5gvVr
— UFC (@ufc) December 11, 2022
These leg kicks from Blachowicz are doing serious damage 😬 #UFC282 pic.twitter.com/4AdJoeHz13
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 11, 2022
We've got a scrap on our hands 🍿 #UFC282 pic.twitter.com/xfvImntUTf
— UFC (@ufc) December 11, 2022
Big bad Jan has laid a BEATING down on the legs of Ankalaev.
🏆 Championship rounds beckon. #UFC282 pic.twitter.com/0OxOA3PhZ4
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) December 11, 2022
