Well, that was quick.
Minutes after the main event of UFC 282, UFC president Dana White announced that former light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira will fight for the vacant championship against top contender Jamahal Hill at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 21, 2023.
It was a random and shocking announcement, mainly because the UFC 282 main event for the light heavyweight title ended in a split draw (look at the scorecard here).
White did not like the main event, calling it terrible. However, when reporters asked what he plans to do next with the title, he explained, “You do Glover versus Jamahal Hill in Brazil for the vacant title. Done.”
BREAKING NEWS @GloverTeixeira to take on @JamahalH for the vacant LHW title at #UFC283! pic.twitter.com/JQOpACa6u4
— UFC (@ufc) December 11, 2022
Hill, (11-1-1) was scheduled for his third straight main event against Anthony Smith on Mar. 11 in Las Vegas, NV; however, that obviously will not be happening. The No. 7 ranked light heavyweight is on a three-fight winning streak with three knockouts, that include Thiago Santos, Johnny Walker, and Jimmy Crute.
Hill reacted to his title shot on his social media. Watch below.
Jamahal Hill reacts to getting a title shotpic.twitter.com/royxjdJO7M
— MMA mania (@mmamania) December 11, 2022
Teixeira was scheduled to headline UFC 282 before his opponent Jiri Prochazka suffered a severe shoulder injury. He is coming off a fight-of-the-year candidate with Prochazka at UFC 275, in which he lost his title via fifth-round submission.
For complete UFC 282 results and coverage click here.