What's next for the UFC Light Heavyweight division?

On Friday UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jamahal Hill put out a video on his YouTube channel revealing an injury he had suffered playing a pick-up basketball game. He ruptured his Achilles and will undergo surgery, causing him to have to relinquish his title. With the reveal of this news, many began to wonder who the UFC would grant the opportunity to fight for the belt, so I am going to give you some of their options. The light heavyweight division has revolved around three big names recently, Jiri Prochazka, Jan Blachowicz, and Magomed Ankalaev as two of them have held the belt previously. I think a fight between Jiri Prochazka and Magomed Ankalaev later this year to headline a paper view would be most fair because they are the most deserving fighters, however, there is another option that may lead to a better storyline down the road. At UFC 291 which will be taking place in just two weeks, Jan Blachowicz is scheduled to welcome former middleweight champ Alex Pereira to the light heavyweight division in what is widely considered a top contender fight. Given the Jamahal Hill news, the UFC can turn that fight into the championship fight, and if Pereira wins another belt, it puts the UFC in a prime position to set up another rivalry fight between Israel Adesanya and Alex Periera, this time for the 205 lbs strap. Of course, there is the question of whether Periera is truly deserving of a title shot in his first fight at a new weight class considering he was already fairly inexperienced in MMA when given the first Adesanya fight that he won. The third option is very far-fetched and I only bring it up because I feel it is necessary, and has a slight chance of happening. Former light heavyweight champion and current heavyweight champion Jon Jones can also fit in the picture if he is willing to have a quick turnaround after his fight with Stipe Miocic at UFC 295. With a win against Miocic, he can have the opportunity to fight for another belt and be the only active champ-champ in the promotion and one of few in its history(4). Many believe Jones is set to retire after his next fight, as there is not much left to do after becoming a two-division champ and beating who many believe is the heavyweight goat. The only thing that can bring him back is a chance at more history, which will be possible if he is given the chance to hold two belts at once. Outside of these contenders(Jan Blachowicz, Magomed Ankalaev, Jiri Prochazka, Jon Jones), there is no one in the division as deserving of a title shot. The question of which two fighters will get the title shot now comes down to who the UFC believes is the most deserving, marketable, and ultimately will be the best champion for the division considering the light heavyweight division has been unable to find a stable champ since Jon Jones vacated the belt in 2020.