Top UFC 'Fight of the Year' contender surprisingly earned the lowest live gate in 2022
The UFC has rounded out the year in style, with a total of 42 events consisting of 511 fights in the entire year, held across five countries and three continents. Fight nights broke multiple records this year, and fans got to see some of the best action and biggest upsets. The company made millions through fan attendance at these events. However, not all events did well at the gate.
According to MMA Junkie, one of the 'Fight of the Year' contenders, the main event of UFC 275, Glover Teixeira vs. Jiri Prochazka, had the lowest attendance and hence the lowest gate of the year. The event was held in Singapore and was attended by a mere 10,787 fans generating a gate income of $1,546,732, both of which were the lowest of the year 2022.
MMA Fighting’s 2022 Fight of the Year: Jiri Prochazka vs. Glover Teixeira (@JoseYoungs) mmafighting.com/2022/12/27/234… https://t.co/r7YVHcuqtQ
The numbers didn't do justice to the event, which turned out to be one of the best fights of the year. The oldest first-time champion in the UFC looked to defend his belt against the former Rizin light heavyweight champion. The fight was a back-and-forth slugfest for five rounds, with both men pulling everything out of their bag of tricks to try to stop their opponent.
Both men had granite chins and refused to get knocked down despite suffering a barrage of punches from each other. When the Brazilian took Prochazka to the ground and executed some brutal ground and pound, everyone thought the fight was almost over. The Polish fighter not only got out but, in a miraculous turn of events, got on Teixeira's back and choked him out to become champion.
Watch the entire fight:
Why was Glover Teixeira vs. Jiri Prochazka 2 at UFC 282 called off?
In an immediate rematch to their Fight of the Year contender, the pair were set to fight each other at UFC 282. However, the fight got called off after the Polish champion decided to vacate the title without defending it.
Jiri Prochazka suffered an injury to his shoulder that would require him to undergo surgery and would sideline him for upwards of a year.
So, instead of holding up the rest of the division for a year until he recovered, he decided to vacate the title. Hence, the main event of UFC 282 saw Jan Blachowizc take on Magomed Ankalaev for the vacant title, which ended in a draw. Prochazka will now look to challenge for the title after he has recovered from his injury. According to Dana White, a doctor described it as the worst shoulder injury in the promotion's history.