Jan Blachowicz is standing up for himself and the UFC 282 main event.
The former champion light heavyweight had the chance to be crowned again Saturday when he faced Magomed Akalaev in a fight for a vacant belt. Blachowicz and Ankalaev were given the opportunity after previous champion Jiri Prochazka vacated the title after suffering a shoulder injury that forced him out of the originally scheduled main event against Glover Teixeira.
judges gave their fight a draw. Ankalaev was frustrated and threatened not to fight again in Las Vegas. Ankalaev was disappointed when Blachowicz came over to give Ankalaev the belt. UFC President Dana White later called the main event “terrible.”
On Monday, Blachowicz changed his tune, defending the contest and walking back his suggestion that he lost the fight.
“Let me reiterate something,” Blachowicz wrote on Twitter. “First — I honestly don’t think the fight was terrible at all. Second — I don’t feel I’ve won but neither that I lost. Draw was fair.
” End result — While one dude wept and discussed his injuries, another showed that honor is possible and continues to be upheld in this sport. It’s great that the fans appreciate it .”
According to the official scorecards, Blachowicz was up after the first three rounds (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) and his precise kicks appeared to injure Ankalaev’s leg. Ankalaev shifted gears in the championship rounds, taking Blachowicz down to win the fourth round and dominate the fifth (two judges gave Ankalaev 10-8 scores in Round 5). However, it wasn’t enough for Ankalaev, as each fighter won one scorecard and the other had it a 47-47 draw.
It is not clear if Blachowicz or Ankalaev will face off in a rematch, but they will likely fight for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 114 in Rio de Janeiro. Shortly after the conclusion of UFC 282, White announced that Teixeira and Jamahal Hill will fight for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 283 on Jan. 21 in Rio de Janeiro.
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/12/12/23505476/jan-blachowicz-defends-ufc-282-stalemate-criticizes-magomed-ankalaev-fight-comments-one-dude-cried?rand=96749
