The 39-year-old Pole and the 30-year-old Russian faced off against each other in the western US city on Saturday during an event called UFC 282. The match ended in a split draw, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Judges scored 48-47 for Błachowicz, 48-46 for Ankalaev, and 47-47. The draw means the light heavyweight championship remains vacant. Champion Jiří Procházka vacated the belt last month after a serious shoulder injury.
Błachowicz said after the bout that he did not feel he won and that the belt should be given to Ankalaev, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
He said: "I don't know if I lost the fight but for sure I'm not the winner."
He added: "Maybe we can do a rematch. I don't feel like I'm a winner."
Ankalaev said: "I won that fight! Why didn't I get my belt?"
Błachowicz was champion from September 2020 to October 2021, when he lost his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight title in a bout against Glover Teixeira of Brazil.
Earlier last year, the Polish fighter defended his belt in a match with Israel Adesanya of Nigeria.
Błachowicz in May this year defeated Serbia's Aleksandar Rakić by technical knockout in the third round in Los Angeles.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, polskieradio24.pl