Tag: Jan Blachowicz

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.

Aleksandar Rakic says Jan Blachowicz out of UFC 297, calls for Jiri Prochazka to step in (Updated)

Nothing is confirmed, but according to Aleksandar Rakic, his UFC 297 fight with Jan Blachowicz is no longer happening.

(Editor note: Story was updated at 12:05 p.m. ET on Dec. 7 with Blachowicz’s confirmation of his UFC 297 withdrawal and statement on the situation)

According to [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag], [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] is out of their fight at UFC 297.

Rakic (14-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is scheduled to run things back with former light heavyweight champion Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) on Jan. 20 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, but Rakic claimed on Thursday in an X post that Blachowicz has withdrawn.

“You can never lose a rematch when you pull out for the second time. Legendary Bullsh*t. Let’s see if the Samurai has the balls to step up on Jan 20th. @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite.”

“The Samurai” is in reference to former champion [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] (29-4-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), whom Rakic has been eager to fight and traded barbs with in the past. Prochazka is coming off a knockout loss to Alex Pereira in their vacant title fight at UFC 295 in November.

Rakic hasn’t competed since blowing out his knee in a TKO loss to Blachowicz in May 2022. Prior to that, he scored back-to-back wins over Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos.

UPDATE: Blachowicz subsequently confirmed his injury withdrawal from the event in a statement on social media (via Instagram):

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

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. 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.

I always say that when I go into a fight, I must be 100% ready. I owe it to myself, my coaches, my opponent and, above all, the fans.

Thank you in advance for your support! I am waiting for the date of surgery, after which rehabilitation and return to training will follow.

I promise I will come back stronger!

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

Jan Blachowicz predicts ‘clear KO’ of Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 297: ‘He’s going to have nothing to say after this’

Jan Blachowicz plans on leaving no doubt in his rematch against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 297.

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] plans on leaving no doubt in his rematch with [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag].

Former light heavyweight champion Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) runs things back with Rakic (14-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) on Jan. 20 at UFC 297 from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Blachowicz defeated Rakic by TKO due to injury in May 2022 after Rakic blew out his knee just over a minute into Round 3. Rakic has been dead set on getting his rematch, and Blachowicz aims to silence any skepticism surrounding their first fight.

“This is how I think about this: I beat him one more time, I break him again, and that’s it,” Blachowicz told Middle Easy. “And I just shut the people out, and that’s it. Then we’ll see what’s going to be next. Now I focus only about him, but I think this is a good fight for me.”

Judges had their first fight scored 1-1 going into Round 3, but Blachowicz aims to end the rematch in more definitive fashion.

“Similar to our first fight but this time I just knock him out,” Blachowicz said. “Clear KO, nothing to say, nothing to do anymore. He’s going to have nothing to say after this.”

Since their first fight, Rakic is yet to compete, whereas Blachowicz has fought twice. He expects the long layoff to impact Rakic.

“For sure it will work for me,” Blachowicz said. “Two years break almost, he’s coming back after surgery, injury, so we will see. But I’m going to be ready for best version of Rakic and of course he will be very motivated because he wants to prove that this time will be a different result. So, I have to be ready for a better Rakic, but I never lost a rematch, and this time will be the same.”

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

Jan Blachowicz picks Alex Pereira to beat Jamahal Hill: ‘Sometimes it’s hard coming back in great shape’

Former UFC champ Jan Blachowicz thinks the long layoff will likely impact Jamahal Hill vs. Alex Pereira.

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] thinks the long layoff will likely impact [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

Many expect Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) to get the next shot at newly crowned light heavyweight champion Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who stopped Jiri Prochazka by knockout Nov. 11 to claim the vacant belt at UFC 295.

Having lost to Pereira in a close decision he thought he won, Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) gives “Poatan” the edge over Hill, who will return from an achilles tendon rupture that required surgery.

“We’ll see how he’s going to feel after the injury because sometimes it’s hard coming back in great shape,” Blachowicz told Middle Easy. “You still got something in the back of your head that you have surgery and you’re coming back. You don’t know how your leg is going to feel. So, I don’t know. In this moment, I would put my money on Pereira.”

Blachowicz is eager to run things back with Pereira. If he can get past Aleksandar Rakic in their rematch at UFC 297 on Jan. 20, he hopes to emerge as the No. 1 contender.

“If Pereira will fight against Jamahal Hill and he’s going to win, and I believe that I’m going to win against Rakic, so this rematch, they have to give it to me because our fight was split decision, and I believe the referee gave a bad decision,” Blachowicz said. “So, they have to give me this rematch.”

Blachowicz is even willing to be a reserve for the title fight between Pereira and Hill.

“I can be backup fighter, no problem,” Blachowicz said. “You just sit over there waiting, watch the fight, and they give you some money. So, why not?”

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

Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Nov. 6-12)

All the UFC and Bellator fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC or Bellator.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Nov. 6-12.

Jan Blachowicz takes exception to Alex Pereira’s ‘pathetic’ callout of Israel Adesanya at UFC 295

Jan Blachowicz belives there is unfinished business with Alex Pereira, who shoudn’t be looking for another fight vs. Israel Adesanya.

Former light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] was not a fan of Alex Pereira’s callout of Israel Adesanya at UFC 295.

In the main event of the pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden in New York, Pereira claimed the vacant light heavyweight title by finishing Jiri Prochazka in the second round. During his post-fight interview, Pereria turned his attention to a familiar foe in Adesanya, which did not sit well with Blachowicz.

The pair have history as Blachowicz was the man to welcome Pereira to the light heavyweight division in July at UFC 291. The result of the fight was a close split decision, that led Pereira to a fight for the title when Jamahal Hill vacated due to injury. Blachowicz thinks Pereira’s attention should be on him instead of Adesanya.

“I know you’re a slimy one. Calling out Izzy,” Blachowicz wrote on X. “Great performance and all but STFU, we have unfinished business, you and I. The judges won’t give you handouts next time. Pathetic.”

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Blachowicz’s statement drew quite a reaction on social media, prompting the former champ to elaborate on his statement.

“I see I need to clarify,” Blachowicz wrote. “People see me that I’m a nice guy all the time. But sometimes I get pissed off, like everyone in life. I’m still super angry that they stole my W against Pereira. Now he calls out Adesanya again. Give it a rest already. We’ve been there 4 times!”

This is LHW and that split decision means we have unfinished business here,” Blachowicz continued in another message. “I’m just saying what I feel. Don’t blame me for it. Just letting you know this. This is all from me. I’m going back to the gym. Got a new opponent and a job to do.”

Blachowicz’s new opponent was officially announced during the UFC 295 broadcast. He will be running it back with Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 297 in a rematch from May 2022.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksandar Rakic 2 officially booked for UFC 297 in Toronto

A big light heayvweight matchup between former champion Jan Blachowicz and Aleksandar Rakic has been added to UFC 297.

The UFC has added another big matchup to its first pay-per-view event of 2024.

Former light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] will take on [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag] at UFC 297. The event takes place Jan. 20 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The bout was officially announced during the UFC 295 broadcast Saturday night.

Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) will look to reenter the win column after a pair of frustrating results. In his last outing at UFC 291, Blachowicz lost a close split decision welcoming former middleweight champion Alex Periera to the light heavyweight division. That result followed a split draw against Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 282 for the vacant light heavyweight title.

Blachowicz’s last win came against Rakic (14-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in their first meeting at UFC on ESPN 36. It was a TKO victory due to injury when Rakic’s knee gave out.

Rakic has not competed since the injury, which led to surgery on his ACL. Prior to the setback, he picked up a pair of unanimous decision wins over former title challengers Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos.

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With the addition, the current UFC 297 lineup includes:

  • Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis – for middleweight title
  • Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva – for vacant women’s bantamweight title
  • Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott
  • Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksandar Rakic
  • Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev
  • Dominick Reyes vs. Carlos Ulberg
  • Garrett Armfield vs. Brad Katona
  • Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Chris Curtis
  • Charles Jourdain vs. Sean Woodson
  • Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana
  • Serhiy Sidey vs. Ramon Taveras
  • Jimmy Flick vs. Malcolm Gordon
  • Yohan Lainesse vs. Sam Patterson

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

Unfortunate circumstances: 14 unforeseen injuries that ended UFC main events

Nobody saw the endings to these UFC main events coming.

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.