Tag: Jan Blachowicz

Ex-UFC champ Jan Blachowicz advises Israel Adesanya against trying light heavyweight again

Jan Blachowicz advises Israel Adesanya against a move back up to light heavyweight.

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] advises [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] against a move back up to light heavyweight.

Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) finds himself in a quandary after losing to middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis by submission in their title fight Saturday at UFC 305 in Perth.

Blachowicz was surprised by Du Plessis’ performance, dubbing his style as awkward.

“It was a very good fight,” Blachowicz told Middle Easy. “I didn’t expect that. I thought Izzy was going to win, but Dricus is tough. He has a very weird style. I don’t know how to say it, very tough, weird style of MMA, but it’s working. He knows what to do, how to fight, and he just uses his style very good. Congratulations to him.”

Adesanya has now lost three of his past four and is unsure what’s next. With not too many lucrative names left for him at middleweight, Blachowicz was asked what he thought of Adesanya moving up to light heavyweight, but he wasn’t fond of the idea.

That’s because Blachowicz welcomed Adesanya to 205 pounds when he was champion, and was able to shut down his dual-champion pursuit when he defeated him by unanimous decision at UFC 259.

“I think he should stay at 185 and do something, but we’ll see what’s going to be his decision,” Blachowicz said. “I’m not in his head. I don’t know what he’s going to do right now. We we’ll see. Maybe he’ll move to 205, but I don’t think so. It’s going to be much harder for him than at 185.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 305.

Jan Blachowicz baffled by Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree fight: ‘Why they don’t ask me about this?’

Jan Blachowicz believes the UFC is giving Alex Pereira preferential treatment, and he’s not OK with it.

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] believes the UFC is giving [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] preferential treatment.

Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) defends his light heavyweight title against [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC)  in the UFC 307 main event Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City, a fight announcement that caught many off guard.

Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC), who arguably gave Pereira his toughest test at 205 pounds when he lost a split decision at UFC 291, wants to know why he wasn’t approached as a potential opponent for “Poatan.” He also can’t understand why Magomed Ankalaev didn’t get the call and was instead booked against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308.

“No f*cking idea,” Blachowicz told Middle Easy. “I don’t know. You tell me because I’m confused. What the f*ck, you know? Why they book Ankalaev with Rakic? Why? Why they don’t ask me about this?

“Maybe I would be ready a little bit earlier. No one asked me. I just don’t understand. For me, it’s weird, and that don’t make any sense for me. I feel like special protection for Pereira. I don’t understand. Why?”

Blachowicz was the one who welcomed Pereira to the light heavyweight division – a fight he’s still adamant he won. He thinks the UFC is tactically picking strikers for Pereira so he can shine.

“I believe that I won this fight against him, and maybe they don’t want to make this fight again because they know that this time, he’s going to lose for 100 percent,” Blachowicz said. “Maybe also that’s why they don’t want to give Ankalaev to him because Ankalaev is also very strong. Maybe this is the reason, that Khalil is a striker and maybe they want to make another nice win for him. Easy, maybe not easy, but another knockout win, something like this.

“I just don’t understand. … If they want big name, I think they can make Ankalaev with Pereira right now. I think Ankalaev will be ready also for another UFC in Abu Dhabi. I think they know everything, what they want to do. They just want to do this, and they did. They’ve got something in their head like, one year into the future, something like this. So, I think they already know what they want to do.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Volkan Oezdemir explains callouts of Jan Blachowicz, Jamahal Hill after UFC on ABC 6 knockout

Volkan Oezdemir has two top contenders in mind after his brutal knockout win at UFC on ABC 6.

[autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag] has two top contenders in mind after his brutal knockout win at UFC on ABC 6.

Oezdemir (20-7 MMA, 8-6 UFC) scored a first-round knockout of Johnny Walker (21-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) in Saturday’s main card opener at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “No Time” has now won three of his past four fights.

The former title challenger called out [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) in his post-fight octagon interview.

“To just climb the ranks,” Oezdemir explained to reporters at the UFC on ABC 6 post-fight press conference. “Blachowicz is going to be a fight for the crown of Europe. It’s going to be the top fight for the European fighters, so that’s a fight I want to do. And Jamahal Hill, I want that fight, as well. My goal is to climb the ranks, take over the division. I’m back. ‘No Time’ is back. This is my time now, and I’m here to showcase this.”

With Hill currently healing from a knee injury and Blachowicz from shoulder surgery, Oezdemir isn’t sure if he’ll be able to get those fights anytime soon – especially that he’s targeting a September return in Paris.

“Both are injured right now, so I don’t know really what’s going to happen with this,” Oezdemir said. “I know I want to have a quick turnaround because I’m eyeing Paris. I want to fight in France again. France is also my home crowd, so I would love to be there again end of September.

“I’m going to have my wedding now in three weeks, so, guys, I’m waiting for the 50K. I’m waiting for the 50K so I can have a great, great wedding. I’ll have a big party and enjoy that a little bit before turning around for the fight in Paris.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

Unfortunate circumstances: 15 unforeseen injuries that ended UFC main events

Injuries are part of the game in MMA, but there’s nothing worse than one ends a marquee UFC fight.

While the term “freak injury” might not be appropriate to use when discussing a sport that is inherently dangerous, 14 UFC main events have ended in unforeseen injuries – broken legs, separated shoulders, eye pokes, etc. – that don’t typically come in the sequence of MMA combat.

Scroll below to see a chronology of UFC main events that ended in that nature.

Note: Injuries sustained on a TKO due to strikes or tapout due to a submission are not included, nor are retirements on the stool due to extended fight damage or exhaustion. Laceration-based stoppages also are not included since they come as an intentional result of the opposition’s attack.

Jan Blachowicz welcomes Kamaru Usman challenge ‘if you still feel the same about it’

Kamaru Usman and Jan Blachowicz are no longer UFC champions, but that hasn’t fizzled their interest in a potential matchup.

[autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] is still steadfast in his belief he could’ve moved up two divisions to light heavyweight when he was still welterweight champion and defeated the champion at the time.

Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) was written off as crazy several years ago when he faced off with then-light heavyweight titleholder [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] backstage at a UFC event and teased moving up 35 pounds in weight.

It never materialized, and both men eventually lost their championship belts. Usman most recently competed at middleweight for the first time with a narrow loss to Khamzat Chimaev in October, while Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) is recovering from multiple surgeries in hopes of returning to the octagon this year.

Although the ship has seemingly sailed on the Usman vs. Blachowicz pairing, perhaps it’s not totally off the table. During a recent episode of his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with co-host Henry Cejudo, former longtime UFC champ Usman explained why he felt so confident in calling out Blachowicz (via X):

“I wouldn’t have called for 205 if I didn’t think at that point that the style favoured me and I could do it,” Usman said. “Everybody’s got power when the fight starts, but you grab their leg and you drag him down, the fight completely changes. And that’s exactly what I was gonna do. Glover Teixeira did the exact same thing (to Blachowicz).”

Never afraid of a challenge, Blachowicz took to social media and Saturday and let Usman know that if he’s still interested, the door is open for them to fight (via X):

“If you still feel the same about it let’s go,” Blachowicz wrote. “I will be ready.”

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Jan Blachowicz: Jon Jones ‘escaped to heavyweight because I was in my prime when he left’

Jon Jones is the fight that got away for Jan Blachowicz, but he hasn’t entirely lost hope.

[autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] is the fight that got away for [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag], but he hasn’t entirely lost hope.

One week after Jones retained his light heavyweight title against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247, he was in attendance to watch Blachowicz emerge as No. 1 contender by knocking out Corey Anderson. However, Jones would go on to relinquish his belt, leading to a vacant title fight between Blachowicz and Reyes at UFC 253. Blachowicz won, defended it against Israel Adesanya, but then lost it to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267.

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) never returned to 205 pounds and it took him three years to return at heavyweight, where he quickly submitted Ciryl Gane to claim the vacant title at UFC 285. Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) is currently recovering from double shoulder surgery, and sees a world where he can finally get his hands on Jones.

“Right now, I am heavyweight, so it’s easy to go to heavyweight,” Blachowicz said an interview with Fanatics View. “I would like to see him fight against (Tom) Aspinall and (Alex) Pereira and me. He escaped to heavyweight because I was in my prime when he left.

“He knew that if he meet me, he’s going to lose. That was his best decision, to go to heavyweight. He promised me this fight, so I hope so – some day, maybe. Maybe not in the gym – somewhere, in the backyard.”

Jones’ first order of business is rebooking his previously scrapped bout with Stipe Miocic. Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall awaits, and Jones also expressed interest in light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

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Jan Blachowicz campaigns for rematch with UFC champ Alex Pereira: ‘He knocked out everybody – not me’

Jan Blachowicz thinks he’s the toughest matchup for UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] thinks he’s the toughest matchup available for UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

Blachowicz welcomed Pereira to the 205-pound division in July 2023 at UFC 291 but was on the wrong end of a split decision. Pereira went on to finish Jiri Prochazka to claim the vacant light heavyweight belt, then achieved his first defense when he knocked out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 this past month.

Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) is still adamant he won the initial encounter and would love to run things back with Pereira (10-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) to prove he’s superior.

“He is not a better fighter than me, and I believe that I deserve the rematch,” Blachowicz said in an interview with Fanatics View. “When he fight against me, I still believe that I won this fight.

“(Judges) see different scores, but I believe that I won this fight against him, and I believe that I deserve the rematch. He knocked out everybody – not me. When I come back, I believe that I can fight against him one more time.”

Blachowicz, No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie light heavyweight rankings, hasn’t fought since the defeat to Pereira due to injuries. The Polish fighter underwent a second shoulder surgery in March, and is targeting a return within the calendar year.

“Everyday is a little bit better but still I need more time to recover and to fix correctly,” Blachowicz said. “So I think my next fight will be at the end of the year, not earlier.”

In the meantime, Blachowicz would like to see Magomed Ankalaev get the next title shot – not Prochazka, who Pereira recently stated is likely next in line.

“I want to see Pereira against Ankalaev because this is the hardest opponent for him right now,” Blachowicz said. “Because I’m not in the division because I’m out for a couple more months. He is the most dangerous fighter for him.”

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Ex-UFC champ Jan Blachowicz announces second shoulder surgery, starts road to comeback

Jan Blachowicz knew it was coming several months ago, and now he can start to think about light at the end of the tunnel.

Ex-UFC champ Jan Blachowicz announces second shoulder surgery, starts road to comeback

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] knew it was coming several months ago, and now he can start to think about light at the end of the tunnel.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion said in late 2023 that he needed surgery on both shoulders. Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) was scheduled to fight Alexander Rakic at UFC 297 in January, but announced the twin surgeries and pulled out of the fight.

Saturday, the Polish light heavyweight posted on social media that he was about to undergo the second procedure.

“🇺🇲 It is what it is …” Blachowicz posted on Instagram. “Going under the knife again. It’s time for the surgery of the other shoulder.

I believe that MML Medical Center will reassemble me, and I would like to thank its boss here – Dr. Michal Michalik, who knows how to take care of a professional athlete, and his specialists perform genuine miracles.

In just a moment, I am putting myself under the care of Dr. Damian Zaborowski. Doctor – let’s do this!

Keep your fingers crossed! With the first shoulder it helped 😉

#LegendaryPolishPower #WillBack”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C42y-tKtGbx/?igsh=a29hZHl6czU0c3oz

Blachowicz, who turned 41 in February, won the then-vacant light heavyweight title in September 2020 a few months after it was vacated by Jon Jones. He defended the title against then-middleweight champ Israel Adesanya, but lost it to Glover Teixeira in October 2021.

The road back to title contention started with a May 2022 win over Aleksandar Rakic, but a split draw with Magomed Ankalaev in another vacant title fight in December 2022 kept him stagnant in the pecking order. This past July, he lost a split decision to Alex Pereira in the former middleweight champ’s 205-pound debut. Pereira went on to a vacant title fight and took the belt against Jiri Prochazka this past November.

Blachowicz did not give a new timeline for his return.

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Jan Blachowicz undergoes surgery on right shoulder, awaiting procedure on left

Former UFC champion Jan Blachowicz has one shoulder operation done, but needs to go under the knife again for the opposite side.

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] will be spending his holiday season recovering from multiple shoulder surgeries.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion revealed earlier this month that he needed surgery on both shoulders. Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) was scheduled to face Alexander Rakic at UFC 297 in January, but rather than attempt to fight with the injuries, he opted for surgery.

So far, so good for Blachowicz, who underwent the knife this week. The former champ posted a video from his hospital bed, with his right shoulder bandaged and his arm in a sling. With one procedure completed, he’s not done yet. Blachowicz says he also needs surgery on his left shoulder, which had pre-surgical markings in the video.

“Yesterday I had surgery, one shoulder is done,” Blachowicz said in a selfie-style video on Instagram Stories. “I’m back to life, but – anyway, they need to do this one, but they cannot do this at the same time because it was so much on this one. So, they fixed this one, and we need another surgery for this one. So, it is what it is. It’s going to be a longer break, but what can I do? I have to accept it and come back after full recovery. Happy Christmas to us old men.”

Blachowicz did not specify when the second surgery will take place.

The 40-year-old Polish fighter was last in action in July at UFC 291, when he dropped a split decision to now-champion Alex Pereira.

Jan Blachowicz announces surgery, issues emotional statement on UFC 297 withdrawal

Jan Blachowicz expressed “anger and sadness” in a statement where he explained why he had to pull out of UFC 297.

Rather than fight at UFC 297, [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] has decided it would be best for him to go under the knife.

After opponent [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag] revealed Thursday that their scheduled Jan. 20 fight was canceled, Blachowicz issued a statement on social media. He expressed “anger and sadness” toward the situation. The reason for withdrawing, Blachowicz said, is a shoulder injury he tried to push through but couldn’t.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” Blachowicz said in an Instagram post. “It’s hard to express how I feel because it’s a mixture of anger and sadness. Withdrawing from a fight due to injury is one of the most difficult decisions a fighter can make. However, sometimes there is no other option, especially when you are competing in the TOP 5 and want to put on a show at the highest possible level.

“Instead of fighting for the best shape, I fight with the pain during every training session. I did everything I could, but my shoulders need surgery. In this state, continuing preparations and entering the Octagon would be irresponsible and stupid.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0jttx-Nora

Blachowicz did not reveal a specific timetable for his return.

It’s unclear if Rakic will remain on the card against a new opponent. However, former champion [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] offered his services on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday in response to Rakic calling him out – but there is a timeline stipulation.

“I am in, but the earliest time I can be in octagon is February/March,” Prochazka wrote.

Prochazka most recently competed in November when he lost a vacant title fight vs. Alex Pereira by TKO at UFC 295.

The fight between Blachowicz and Rakic was supposed to be a rematch. The two fought in May 2022. That bout ended in third-round TKO due to injury when Rakic blew his knee out.

Blachowicz, 40, is 0-1-1 since that meeting. Rakic has yet to compete since.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.