The Saturday Setup: UFC 282

Getting you all the information you need to know about the final UFC pay-per-view for 2022 by collecting all of Severe MMA’s pre-fight coverage for you in one convenient location

Later this evening in Las Vegas, the UFC’s 2022 pay-per-view schedule wraps up with a gem of a card at T-Mobile Arena.

While UFC 282 took a hit losing the light heavyweight championship rematch between Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira, shuffling Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev into the headlining position with the vacant title hanging in the balance is a tremendous on-the-fly fix, and the remainder of the card remains outstanding.

If you’re looking to familiarize yourself with the combatants set to step into the Octagon and the storylines and talking points surrounding these contests, you’ve come to the right place, as we’ve collected all of this week’s pre-fight content here for your enjoyment.

Welcome to The Saturday Setup for UFC 282.

Fighter to Watch: Ilia Topuria

The undefeated Georgian fighter returns to action and returns to the featherweight division in an outstanding matchup with fellow rising star Bryce Mitchell.

E. Spencer Kyte details why Topuria is one to keep tabs on, what questions remain for the 25-year-old to answer, and why Saturday’s matchup with “Thug Nasty” is so important.

UFC 282 Preview Show

Ian O’Neill convenes the full expert panel to dive into this weekend’s pay-per-view, as Sean Sheehan, Harry Powell, and ESK jump in to talk UFC 282 from all angles.

It gets a little hot-and-heated at times — as it should when you’re as passionate about this sport as these four lads are — but the insights, analysis, and discussions remain next level on the best weekly UFC preview show in the business.

One Question for Every Fight

Is Magomed Ankalaev ready to be champion? How good is Paddy Pimblett? What will Edmen Shahbazyan look like in his return following a year away?

These are just some of the questions being put forth and pontificated on by ESK as he goes from the top of the card to the opening bout of the evening, examining the full slate at UFC 282.

10 Things I Like

From Ankalaev getting his championship opportunity in the main event to the debut of Cameron Saaiman in the opening bout of the evening, there is plenty to like about this weekend’s fight card from start to finish.

ESK lays out what he likes the most from this weekend’s final pay-per-view and does it all in under 40 minutes.

Severe Picks & Plays

After stumbling to a 7-7 result with his picks and dropping a little over six units with his plays in Orlando, ESK looks to rebound with a big effort on the last numbered event of 2022 before wrapping up the year with one final APEX show next weekend.

Staff Picks

The Severe MMA team weighs in on who they think will leave Las Vegas as light heavyweight champion and which fighters in the remaining main card matchups will have their hands raised in triumph on Saturday night.