The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight throne remains unclaimed.
Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev battled to a split draw in the UFC 282 headliner on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, leaving the 205-pound penthouse vacant in wake of former champion Jiri Prochazka’s reign-ending shoulder injury. Judge Michael Bell cast a 48-47 scorecard for Blachowicz, while Derek Cleary saw it 48-46 for Ankalaev and Sal D’Amato scored it 47-47.
Ankalaev (17-1-1, 9-1-1 UFC) set the tone early with crisp punching combinations and punishing front kicks to the body.