Light Heavyweight Champ Procházka Relinquishes Title Ahead Of UFC 282

Summary

• Jiří Procházka will not defend his UFC light heavyweight belt at UFC 282
• Jiří decided to voluntarily give up his belt after he suffered a serious shoulder injury
• UFC 282 will be headlined by interim lightheavyweight title fight

UFC 282 was set to be the final pay per view card of 2022 and was to be headlined by a UFC light heavyweight title fight between current champ Jiří Procházka and former champ Glover Teixeira. That fight will not be taking place as Jiří Procházka has decided to relinquish his belt voluntarily.

Jiří decided that he would defend his championship belt for the first time at UFC 282 against Glover Teixeira in a rematch. With less than three weeks left for the fight, Jiří and his camp informed the UFC that he would not be able to compete at UFC 282 due to a serious shoulder injury.

UFC President Dana White said Jiří’s shoulder injury was the worst shoulder injury that UFC doctors have ever seen. The shoulder injury is expected to keep Jiří out for a close to a year.

Jiří Procházka who has huge respect for the samurai way of life decided that it was not right for him to continue to sit out injured and be the light heavyweight champion. As a result, he informed the UFC that he was forfeiting his title in order to let the division move on without him. In his mind, he will continue to be the UFC champion till he comes back from injury and fights again.

Glover Teixeira was offered an interim title fight with Magomed Ankalaev to headline UFC 282 for the interim title but he turned down the fight.

The UFC has decided to move the co-Main event up to the Main Event as Jan Błachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev will now fight for the UFC interim light heavyweight title. Jan is the former light heavyweight champ who lost his belt to Glover while Ankalaev is on a 9 fight win streak which is the second longest win streak in the light heavyweight division.

Błachowicz and Ankalaev were initially training for a 3 round fight but will now have to be ready for 5 rounds.

Dana White has confirmed that Jiří Procházka will get an immediate title shot on his return which is likely at the end of 2023 or early 2024.