Welcome to The Weekly Takedown, Sports Illustrated’s in-depth look at MMA. Every week, this column offers insight and information on the most noteworthy stories in the fight world.
The main event of UFC 282 was scheduled to be Jiri Prochazka defending the light heavyweight title against Glover Teixeira. But neither of those men will be on the card this Saturday.
Prochazka was forced to relinquish the title after suffering a severe shoulder injury. Fortunately for UFC matchmakers, two other elite light heavyweights—Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev—were also scheduled to fight each other on the 282 card. But before that was turned into a title bout, Ankalaev expected to see a different opponent.