The Russian-Polish title fight, which led the event, went the whole distance, following the results of five rounds of which Derek Cleary gave the victory to Ankalaev with a score of 48-46, Mike Bell gave the fight to Blachowicz with a score of 48-47, and Saul D’Amato decided the outcome of the fight by fielding score 47-47.
The main problem of the Russian in the match was the low-kicks of the Pole, because of which he had to first change his stance, and then completely transfer the fight to the ground, where he dominated his opponent in the championship rounds, powerfully taking the ending.
After listening to the judge’s verdict, Blachowicz made it clear that he considered Ankalaev the winner, offering to give him the championship belt, and the Russian fighter, shocked by the judge’s decision, did not rule out the possibility that he would no longer enter the ocatagon and end his career.
In the co-main event of the tournament, which was a lightweight fight between Paddy Pimblett and Jared Gordon, the judges also proved themselves by not allowing an upset of the evening to happen, a highly controversial unanimous decision with a score of 29-28, giving the victory to the British three times.
At the same time, in a post-match interview, Pimblett said that he did not consider the fight close, and also expressed confidence that he completely dominated the American and won at least two rounds.
In the third most important event of the tournament, the Argentinean Santiago Ponzinibbio snatched victory in an almost lost fight in the middle of the third round, finishing with a technical knockout of Alex Morono.
The main card of the event was opened by the confrontation between the undefeated featherweights Ilia Topuria and Bryce Mitchell, in which the Georgian fighter won a bright victory, strangling the American with a hand-held triangle in the second round.
Among other results of the tournament, we note the successful debut in the organization of the youngest fighter in UFC history, 18-year-old Raul Rosas Junior, who already dealt with Jay Perrin in the first round, as well as an early victory of heavyweight Jairzinho Rozenstruik, who knocked out Chris Dakas in the 23rd second of the match .
Early victories were recorded by Drikus Du Plessis, Edmen Shahbazyan, Chris Curtis, Billy Quarantillo, T.J. Brown and Cameron Saiman.
All UFC 282 results.