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The UFC mild heavyweight division is in flux heading into the New Year. After UFC 282 noticed Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev battle to an unlikely cut up draw in the principle occasion, UFC president Dana White has determined to place the nonetheless vacant title up for grabs on the first PPV of 2023.
White introduced that Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill has been added to UFC 283 and that the title will likely be on the road. White did word that the struggle had been verbally agreed to and that contracts nonetheless wanted to be signed.
Five totally different fighters have been tied to the UFC mild heavyweight championship over the course of 17 days. A highly-anticipated rematch between Jiri Prochazka and Teixeira was scheduled to headline UFC 282 in Las Vegas, however Prochazka vacated the title on Nov. 23 after struggling a extreme shoulder harm. Then, Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev was elevated to the principle occasion with the vacant title at stake.
Blachowicz conceded that he thought he misplaced the struggle, proclaiming Ankalaev because the rightful winner. Ankalaev agreed however UFC brass didn’t. White was vital of Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev, describing the struggle as boring. As a consequence, matchmakers opted to incorporate a late addition title struggle to UFC 283.
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“The most important occasion was horrible,” White instructed reporters through the UFC 282 post-fight press convention earlier than including, “I began to zone out after three rounds.”
UFC 283 takes place at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, Jan. 21. The card is headlined by a historic fourth struggle between UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and interim flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, who’re tied 1-1-1 of their collection.