BREAKING: Magomed Ankalaev ignored as Dana White reveals next light heavyweight title match-up
Dana White has announced a new light heavyweight title fight in the immediate aftermath of the UFC 282 title fight between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev. The next UFC light heavyweight title fight will reportedly be contested between Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill.
Teixeira will look to regain his title against Hill in front of his home fans in Brazil when the promotion gets there next month for UFC 283. Chamatkar Sandhu of BT Sport wrote on Twitter:
"Dana White just said he's gonna make Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship in Brazil. "It's done!" he said. Wow."
Texeira was originally scheduled to face former champ Jiri Prochazka at UFC 282 before 'Denisa' pulled out due to a severe injury, also vacating the belt. Texeira was then sidelined in favor a makeshift title fight between Jan Blachowicz and the long-deserving Magomed Ankalaev. The Brazilian claims to have accepted both fights but wanted a little more time to prepare for Ankalaev.
Ankalaev and Blachowicz went toe-to-toe in the opening frame of their UFC 282 encounter before the Pole started getting the better of the Dagestani with vicious leg kicks. Ankalaev bounced back strong in round 3 and spent the championship rounds dominating Blachowicz on the ground. However, the fight was controversially declared a split draw, with even Blachowicz accepting that Ankalaev deserved the strap.
According to ESPN's Marc Raimondi, Magomed Ankalaev has claimed to be unsure about fighting in the UFC again. The announcement of the new title fight between Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill will only likely make the Russian feel even more shunned.