The main event of UFC 282 saw Blachowicz and Ankalaev going toe to toe in a very close match. Moreover, the match ended in a split draw, which left the light heavyweight title vacant at the end of the year. The title picture, hence, took a major twist as Dana White had new contenders fighting for the title. White made the decision to a light heavyweight title fight between Jamahal Hill and Glover Teixeira.
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Jamahal Hill, in an interview with Ariel Helwani, admitted that Dana White and UFC immediately offered him the title shot.
Dana White gives the title shot to Jamahal Hill
Ariel Helwani asked Jamahal Hill about his reaction to receiving the title shot. Hill said that he received the call quickly about the decision.
Hill said, “I mean, the only thing I was surprised with was how quick they called. But that’s not really that surprising once you think about it. Just state of where the division is right now… I had a feeling that they didn’t want to leave the belt vacant. You have me and Smith scheduled to fight, which I ‘jokefully’ made to tweet out like ‘Me and Smith for the belt’. I figured it was a possibility I figured I’d be next in line just because of the misfortune of the leg injury that happened to Smith who fortunately still lost that fight. So I figured I’ll be next.”
“They called me quick as hell bro. They [Blachowicz and Ankalaev] hadn’t even left the cage. I think they were talking to Magomed and he just like that right at the end of them talking to him then he called me and like I said yeah and all that I’m looking up and he’s like walking out of the cage.” Hill continued.
White has a job on his hands
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Jamahal took to Twitter and tweeted that he wanted to face Anthony Smith next. To everyone’s surprise, although Dana White gave the title shot to Jamahal Hill, however, it was against Glover Teixeira. Also, Anthony Smith said that the result of the fight and the subsequent announcement was the biggest problem for him. Dana White now would have to make decisions regarding the future fights of some of the light heavyweight contenders.
Anthony Smith said, “Yeah, that’s a big problem for me. Yeah, I don’t know… It kind of leaves me with nobody. That’s the problem. Ankalaev just fought, (Aleksandar) Rakic is injured, Blachowicz just fought, Jamahal Hill was left. Glover Teixeira was available, and now he’s not.”
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WATCH THIS STORY: UFC 282 – Blachowicz vs Ankalaev Highlights and Aftermath
Moreover, it will be interesting to know what the other fighters think of this decision of Dana White.