Jon Jones won’t be part of UFC 282. If he were, the recent changes to the card wouldn’t be nearly as damaging. Perhaps there is still time in the next two weeks to turn around the card, but there is such limited time for major changes or additions.
Jiri Prochazka’s shoulder injury throws the light heavyweight division into disarray. It is severe enough that it caused him to vacate the title, and the new champion will be determined in the Jan Blachowicz-Magomed Ankalaev bout. The card will no longer feature Glover Teixeira, who appeared willing to fight Blachowicz, yet wanted more time to prepare for Ankalaev. That request was denied, and Teixeira is now no longer on the 282 card.
While it typically isn’t a wise move to step out of a title fight, Teixeira should still be next in line to fight for the belt. The light heavyweight division lacks depth and star power, and losing Prochazka is a blow. He had the potential to be the face of the division for the foreseeable future, but this injury changes that. The window now reopens for Blachowicz, who lost the title in a poor showing to Teixeira, or Ankalaev, who has been running through opponents during his nine-fight win streak.
