5 biggest takeaways from UFC 282: Paddy Pimblett’s legit robbery and a disastrous turn at 205

Ever since Jon Jones relinquished the belt, the UFC light heavyweight has been in shambles. So in reality, we shouldn’t be all that surprised by the latest twists and turns in the landscape of what was once the promotion’s marquee glamor division.

After Jones departed to make his still-awaited move to heavyweight nearly three years ago, there has been no consistency. Dominick Reyes seemed like he was going to be the next man, but then he got knocked out by a late-30s Jan Blachowicz. Then Israel Adesanya failed in his bid to overtake the division before Blachowicz was submitted by a 40-year-old Glover Teixeira.

It seemed like Jiri Prochazka might be the guy after he won a Fight of the Year contender with Teixeira to claim gold in July, but then, of course, he suffered a horrific shoulder injury that’s going to put him out for more than a year.

So that’s how we ended up with Saturday’s main event between Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev for the vacant strap. Ankalaev seemed like a guy who could be the next torchbearer for the weight class, but nope. We got a split draw result, leaving the belt vacant in this total crapshoot of a situation. The fight wasn’t great, either, so that wasn’t exactly motivating for the UFC to immediately run it back.

Now we end with a makeshift title booking of Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill for UFC 283 next month in Brazil. It kind of worked out for the UFC in the sense that it needed another title fight for that card in Rio de Janeiro, but the whole thing is just weird and feels extremely cobbled together, because it is.

Hill certainly has the potential to be a sellable champion for the UFC, and him beating Teixeira would be the optimal outcome here, in my opinion. But there’s so much possibility for things to go wrong. What if Teixeira wins then decides to retire in his home country? What is Hill – who is fighting on short notice – misses weight and wins the fight? Both situations would lead to another vacant belt.

Hopefully the worst of this rollercoaster is over, and some stability is around the corner.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 282.

Gallery Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 282: Best photos