Dana White has received both praise and criticism over the years, but when it comes to fighting evening, it is up to the athletes to deliver.
UFC 282 On December 10, 2022, a more than competent PPV card in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Together with Matchups such as Ilia Topuria vs Bryce Mitchell and Dricus du Plessis vs Darren Till, the Co-Main event contained one of the most popular stars of promotion with Paddy Pimblett that Jared Gordon beat in controversial fashion.
The lightweight competition was not the only collision that some fans had disappointed in the main event that White also remained very frustrated.
A new light heavyweight champion would be crowned, but after a five -round game between Jan Bachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev, the division was back to where it was the day before.
Dana White immediately booked a new empty title fight after Jan Bachowicz vs Magomed Ankalaev ended up in a draw
In the main event of UFC 282, Jan Bachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev fought for a split draw, which meant that the title remained empty.
The 205 pound division was in a strange position after Jiri Prochazka had left the belt because of injury, and this matchup did not help the situation.
In his press conference after the fight, Dana White made his feelings about the fight and reaction of Ankalaev to the result very clear.
“What are you going to do? I thought the main event was terrible. You know, what are you going to do?
“I don't even know, I started to find the zone after three F – rounds. I heard that Ankalaev is upset and whatever, what do you want me to do? You have been beaten in the first two rounds.”
When the UFC president is asked what the next step is for each member of the selection during a press conference after the fight, you can expect him to hear him say that he does not book any fighting in the immediate aftermath.
Those conversations are usually stored for the matchmaker meetings that take place a few days later, but in this case White wanted to continue immediately with the overwhelming outcome of UFC 282.
During the press conference, he stated that there were already plans to have two different competitors fight for the empty title, whereby the matchup took place at UFC 283 the following month.
'Well, you do Glover [Teixeira] vs Jamahal Hill in Brazil for the empty title. Finished.”
When White was thanked for breaking something new, when he usually does not offer fight updates in the night of an event, he replied that this was a special occasion.
“Yes, you are very welcome. It's what I do. That's me, it's Christmas.”
The light heavyweight division of the UFC was constantly hit with curve balls around this time
Although the dominant victory of Jamahal Hill on Glover Teixeira seemed to indicate that the light heavyweight division could finally be back on the right track, this did not last long.
Hill would leave the title in July 2023 after tearing his Achilles -Tees during a basketball game at International Fight Week that would keep him out of place for some time.
'Sweet Dreams' would return to UFC 300 the following year, where he was defeated by Alex Pereira, who had won the empty title by stopping Jiri Prochazka on UFC 295.
After his disastrous night at UFC 282, Magomed Ankalaev would finally claim the gold of 205 pounds when he defeated Pereira earlier this year.