Today, Light Heavyweight Champion Jiri Prochazka vacated the title due to a shoulder injury. UFC President Dana White has said it is the worst injury doctors have seen in UFC history.
Prochazka and his team later released a statement that he would fight for the title again once the doctors give him the all-clear to return. The Czech fighter has said that he will be out for six months, though it may be longer; more will be known after his surgery.
Prochazka was set to defend the title at UFC 282 against the man he took it from, Glover Teixeira. The new main event will be Jan Blachowicz vs Magomed Ankaleav, and Blachowicz and Ankaleav were already scheduled to fight at the event.
Former Champion Teixeira was offered the chance to take Ankaleav on at the event but turned it down due to insufficient time to prepare for the change in opponent. The Russian fighter is currently riding a nine-fight win streak, and his last loss came in his UFC debut against Scottish submission specialist Paul Craig.
UFC 282 is set to take place on Sunday, December 11 (Saturday, December 10 in the US) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett will take on Jared ‘Flash’ Gordon in the co-main event.