5 questions that will be answered at UFC 282: Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev

UFC 282: Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev will be underway at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, this weekend. The final pay-per-view of 2022 is brimming with intriguing matchups and storylines, which have been dissected below.

With one championship bout atop the card and a number of fan favorites set to return to the octagon at UFC 282, this pay-per-view offers a little something for everyone.

On that note, here are five questions that will be answered at UFC 282.

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#5. Can Raul Rosas Jr. kick off his UFC career in style?

In the latest season of Dana White's Contender Series, teenage phenom Raul Rosas Jr. and wrestling stalwart Bo Nickal emerged as the biggest exports from the show. Rosas Jr., who was just 17 when he fought on DWCS earlier this year, thoroughly dominated his opponent to earn a UFC contract.

The Mexican-American will be 18 when he makes his octagon debut this weekend against Jay Perrin.

Rosas Jr. boasts a perfect 6-0 record, comprising five finishes, four of which were submissions. 'El Nino Problema's unpredictable and wild grappling game was on full display on DWCS and it remains to be seen whether he can carry his momentum forward into his full promotional debut.

It remains to be seen whether he can handle the bright lights. The matchmakers have rightfully given Rosas Jr. a somewhat favorable matchup as his next opponent Jay Perrin is 0-2 in the UFC.

There were certainly eyebrows raised when the promotion offered a 17-year-old a contract to fight in the big leagues, as many would've likely advised him to garner more experience before fighting the best of the best. Rosas Jr. will have an opportunity to prove that he belongs in the UFC on Saturday night.

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#4. Who will be undefeated no more – Bryce Mitchell or Ilia Topuria?

Perhaps the most competitive and evenly matched fight on the card is the pay-per-view curtain-raiser, which is a hardcore fans delight.

Undefeated featherweights Bryce Mitchell and Ilia Topuria will lock horns in a mouthwatering clash, which will determine which young ranked contender will continue his ascent up the 145-pound ladder.

Bryce Mitchell currently occupies the No.9 spot in the featherweight rankings. The Arkansas native boasts a stellar professional record of 15-0, while his counterpart, No.14-ranked Ilia Topuria, sports a 12-0 record.

Mitchell is coming off a dominant grappling clinic against Edson Barboza, wherein he showed off his improved striking as well. Meanwhile, Topuria is among the most powerful featherweights around, having knocked out his last three opponents. Both 'Thug Nasty' and 'El Matador' are extremely well-versed in the grappling arts, which further adds to the intrigue surrounding this matchup.

Someone's '0' has got to go.

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#3. Is Darren Till a legitimate threat to the UFC middleweight title?

Darren Till has endured a horrid run of form since suffering his first professional loss back in 2018. Once a red-hot title challenger at welterweight, Till's stock has dropped considerably in recent years.

Defeats to Tyron Woodley, Jorge Masvidal, Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson have rendered 'The Gorilla' a shadow of his former self.

Darren Till will be itching to return to winning ways when he steps back into the octagon this weekend. The Liverpudlian will look to pick up his first win in three years when he takes on surging South African contender Dricus du Plessis on the main card of UFC 282.

Till's No.10 spot in the middleweight rankings will be on the line when he fights du Plessis, who is riding a five-fight win streak. Both fighters are primarily strikers, which should benefit 'The Gorilla', who has struggled against high-level grapplers thus far.

If Till is to work his way towards title contention, a win this weekend is paramount. He has a tough opponent in du Plessis ahead of him, and another loss will be hugely detrimental to his championship aspirations. On the flip side, a win on Saturday night will see the emergence of yet another compelling challenger to the middleweight crown.

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#2. Will Paddy 'The Baddy' steal the show yet again?

Long before joining the UFC, Paddy Pimblett had a strong following and magnetic energy that drew the masses. The former Cage Warriors champion signed with the world's premier MMA promotion last year and his star power has since reached astronomical heights.

In his three octagon outings so far, Pimblett has come away with just as many highlight reel finishes and post-fight bonuses. 'The Baddy' will look to uphold his momentum when he takes on Jared Gordon in the co-main event of UFC 282.

Paddy Pimblett's first two opponents in the UFC, Luigi Vendramini and Rodrigo Vargas, are no longer on the roster. His next opponent, Jordan Leavitt, was a decent step up in competition and the Brit bagged a second-round finish.

Jared Gordon, who has been in the UFC for over half a decade, is arguably the toughest fighter Pimblett has ever faced. Gordon is as durable as they come at 155 pounds and has fought some of the best fighters in the division. The New Yorker is coming off a comfortable win over Leonardo Santos earlier this year.

Both fighters appear to be somewhat evenly matched on the feet, while Pimblett has a clear edge on the mat. 'The Baddy' will also have a height and reach advantage and is seven years younger than his counterpart. This being the co-headliner, it's a massive platform for the Scouse sensation to further boost his stock.

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#1. Is it finally Magomed Ankalaev's time, or can Jan Blachowicz upset the odds?

The UFC light heavyweight title has been changing hands like a hot potato since longtime 205-pound kingpin Jon Jones vacated the belt in 2020. Jan Blachowicz, Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka have all held the crown since Jones left the division, and we might just have a fourth different titleholder after this weekend.

Surging light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev, who is riding a scorching nine-fight win streak, will finally get his shot at UFC gold when he takes on former champion Jan Blachowicz for the vacant title in the UFC 282 headliner.

Magomed Ankalaev has long been touted as the divisional dark horse at 205 pounds. The towering Dagestani phenom picked up wins over the likes of Nikita Krylov, Volkan Oezdemir, Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos to earn his title shot, but hasn't faced a fighter quite as dangerous as Jan Blachowicz.

Blachowicz has endured a turbulent run in the UFC since signing with the promotion over eight years ago. The Polish knockout artist is far more experienced than Ankalaev, especially in five-round fights, which could prove to be a major factor on the night.

However, Anakalaev's overall well-rounded arsenal might just be too much for Blachowicz, as will the age difference between the two. The up-and-coming Russian is nearly a decade younger than the former champion and is only now entering his physical prime.

Blachowicz is a crafty veteran and cannot be counted out, but this could just turn out to be the start of a new era atop the light heavyweight division.