Breaking: Dana White provides details about Jiri Prochazka's shoulder injury calling it the "worst shoulder injury in UFC history"

Jiri Prochazka has been forced to pull out of his UFC 282 title defense against Glover Teixeira due to a shoulder injury. UFC President Dana White shared that the injury that led to the highly anticipated rematch of the UFC 275 main event was the worst in the history of the promotion.

Kevin Iole

@KevinI

BREAKING: Jiri Prochazka PUT of UFC 282 with serious injury. Glover turned down title fight. Jiri vacated. New main event is Blachowicz vs Ankalaev. Story soon on @YahooSports

2478

284

BREAKING: Jiri Prochazka PUT of UFC 282 with serious injury. Glover turned down title fight. Jiri vacated. New main event is Blachowicz vs Ankalaev. Story soon on @YahooSports

Speaking to Kevion Iole of Yahoo Sports, the UFC frontman stated:

​

"This is the worst shoulder injury the doctors have seen in UFC history. It's really f**king bad. His shoulder is very, very bad. He's going to have serious surgery that will require extensive rehab."

Brett Okamoto of ESPN shared more details on the injury, noting that it was an orthopedic shoulder injury. He added that Prochazka's recovery will take over a year, which led to the former light heavyweight champion's decision to vacate his belt rather than hold up the rest of the division.

Brett Okamoto

@bokamotoESPN

Jiri Prochazka is out of UFC 282 due to a severe orthopedic injury. Timeframe for recovery is upwards of a year. According to UFC and Jiri's representatives, it was his decision to vacate the belt out of respect for other contenders. Jiri's injury first reported by @KevinI.

5326

558

Jiri Prochazka is out of UFC 282 due to a severe orthopedic injury. Timeframe for recovery is upwards of a year. According to UFC and Jiri's representatives, it was his decision to vacate the belt out of respect for other contenders. Jiri's injury first reported by @KevinI.

---

Who will fight for Jiri Prochazka's vacant belt?

Jiri Prochazka was set to face Glover Teixeira in the main event of UFC 282 before pulling out with a shoulder injury. After Prochazka vacated the title, Teixeira was offered the opportunity to fight Magomed Ankalaev for the light heavyweight belt.

According to Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour, the No.1-ranked light heavyweight instead wanted to face Jan Blachowicz instead, as he felt he didn't have enough time to prepare for Ankalaev. The promotion, however, denied that request, as the two previously met at UFC 267.

Teixeira offered to fight the No.3-ranked heavyweight at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, however, the UFC noted that they needed a main event title fight for UFC 282. Teixeira passed on the opportunity, noting the difference in style between Prochazka, who he was preparing for, and Ankalaev.

Ariel Helwani

@arielhelwani

Just spoke to Glover and Jiri’s team. Here’s the full story on UFC 282, live from my car.

3140

320

Just spoke to Glover and Jiri’s team. Here’s the full story on UFC 282, live from my car. https://t.co/okx1yH2B0r

With Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira both out of the main event, Magomed Ankalaev will face Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title in the new main event. The lightweight bout between Paddy Pimblett and Jared Gordon will now serve as the co-main event.

UFC

@ufc

Our NEW light heavyweight title fight headlining #UFC282

Jiri Prochazka has suffered a significant shoulder injury. Out of respect to the athletes and the division he will vacate his title.

@JanBlachowicz vs @AnkalaevM is your new main event for the undisputed UFC LHW belt!

4124

479

Our NEW light heavyweight title fight headlining #UFC282 🏆

Jiri Prochazka has suffered a significant shoulder injury. Out of respect to the athletes and the division he will vacate his title.

@JanBlachowicz vs @AnkalaevM is your new main event for the undisputed UFC LHW belt! https://t.co/CScRxmjWwS

​