Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev will cross gloves in a light heavyweight clash.
Former champion Blachowicz (29-9 MMA, 12-6 UFC) meets Ankalaev (18-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) at UFC 282 on Dec. 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. ESPN was the first to report the news.
Since losing the light heavyweight title to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267 in October 2021, Blachowicz rebounded with a TKO win over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC on ESPN 36 in May. After splitting the first two rounds, Rakic buckled his knee in Round 3 and the fight was waved off, which gave Blachowicz the TKO win.
Ankalaev will look to earn a title shot after winning nine straight bouts. The Dagestani fighter is coming off back-to-back wins over former title challengers Thiago Santos and, most recently, a TKO over Anthony Smith at UFC 277 in July.
UFC 282 line up:
Robbie Lawler vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Darren Till
Chris Daukaus vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Joaquin Buckley vs. Chris Curtis
Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Edmen Shahbazyan
Alexander Hernandez vs. Billy Quarantillo
TJ Brown vs. Erik Silva
Vinicius Salvador vs. Daniel da Silva
Bo Nickal vs. Jamie Pickett
Ronnie Lawrence vs. Cameron Saaiman
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Jan Blachowicz