Tag: Jan Blachowicz

UFC 291 pre-event facts: Dustin Poirier brings flawless rematch record to ‘BMF’ title fight

The best facts about UFC 291, which includes the historic resumes of Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Tony Ferguson, Derrick Lewis, and more.

The UFC returns to Salt Lake City on Saturday for the third time in company history with a loaded UFC 291 event, which takes place at Delta Center with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+.

The main event will see the reintroduction of the “BMF” title, with former interim UFC lightweight champs [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] (29-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) and [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] (24-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) set to meet in a rematch of their 2018 Fight of the Year, which Poirier won by fourth-round TKO.

In addition to the pair of fan favorites colliding in the headliner, a number of notables are slated for the rest of the lineup. For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC 291.

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UFC 291 ‘Embedded,’ No. 2: Jan Blachowicz feels like ‘a true American’ at the rodeo

In this episode of UFC 291 “Embedded,” Jan Blachowicz cowboys up for the first time and loves it.

The “Embedded” fight-week video series is back to document what’s happening behind the scenes at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City.

The UFC is back with its ninth pay-per-view of the year, which means the popular “Embedded” fight-week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 291 takes place Saturday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

In the main event, the “BMF” title is on the line between former interim lightweight champions [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] (29-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) and [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] (24-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who fight in a rematch. Poirier won their first meeting in 2018 with a fourth-round TKO.

In the co-feature, former light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (29-9-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) takes on ex-middleweight champ [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who is moving up to 205 pounds after he lost the 185-pound belt earlier this year.

In addition, [autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] (28-11 MMA, 6-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag] (17-6-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC), [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] (25-8 MMA, 15-6 UFC) meets [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] (29-14-1 MMA, 10-9-1 UFC), and [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 11-6 UFC) fights [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (24-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC) on the main card.

The second episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Dustin Porier does a grocery run. Stephen Thompson soaks away a tough workout. Kevin Holland stays sharp in Texas. Glover Teixeira grills for Alex Pereira. Jan Blachowicz cowboys up; Tony Ferguson trains as only he can.

Also see:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.

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UFC free fight: Jan Blachowicz spoils Luke Rockhold’s move to light heavyweight

Ahead of the UFC 291 co-main event, watch Jan Blachowicz brutally knock out Luke Rockhold to spoil his move to light heavyweight in 2019.

Luke Rockhold had a rough welcome to the light heavyweight division courtesy of [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag].

At UFC 239 in July 2019, Rockhold moved up to 205 pounds in hopes of a new start to his career. He was coming off a knockout loss to Yoel Romero in an interim middleweight title fight. But things didn’t go as planned for the former 185-pound titleholder. Blachowicz knocked him out in brutal fashion in the second round with a convincing finish that sparked Blachowicz’s best UFC run, which eventually led him to the light heavyweight belt.

You can watch Blachowicz’s brutal finish in the video above.

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Blachowicz returns to the cage Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 291 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. He welcomes former middleweight champion Alex Pereira to the light heavyweight division.

Blachowicz is coming off a draw against Magomed Ankalaev in a title fight for the vacant light heavyweight title in December 2022. Prior to that, Blachowicz had a TKO win over Aleksandar Rakic in his first fight after he lost the title to Glover Teixeira.

Pereira is coming off a knockout loss to Israel Adesanya in which he lost the middleweight title. The defeat snapped a seven-fight winning streak, which included a TKO win over Adesanya to claim the belt in November 2022.

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UFC 291 ‘Embedded,’ No. 1: Michel Pereira leads U.S. soldiers in training

Michel Pereira goes on an intense workout at altitude with a group of soldiers from the U.S. Army in this first episode of UFC 291 “Embedded.”

The “Embedded” fight-week video series is back to document what’s happening behind the scenes at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City.

The UFC is back with its ninth pay-per-view of the year, which means the popular “Embedded” fight-week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 291 takes place Saturday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

In the main event, the “BMF” title is on the line between former interim lightweight champions [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] (29-7 MMA, 21-6 UFC) and [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] (24-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who fight in a rematch. Poirier won their first meeting in 2018 with a fourth-round TKO.

In the co-feature, former light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (29-9-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) takes on ex-middleweight champ [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who is moving up to 205 pounds after he lost the 185-pound belt earlier this year.

In addition, [autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag] (28-11 MMA, 6-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Stephen Thompson[/autotag] (17-6-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC), [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] (25-8 MMA, 15-6 UFC) meets [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] (29-14-1 MMA, 10-9-1 UFC), and [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] (16-6 MMA, 11-6 UFC) fights [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (24-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC) on the main card.

The first episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje prepare to rematch with the BMF belt on the line. Stephen Thompson straps up and Michel Pereira trains with soldiers. Jan Blachowicz and Alex Pereira both want to reclaim gold, one of them in a new division. Don’t miss UFC 291 on Saturday, July 29.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.

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Video: UFC 291 ‘Countdown’ for Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira

Did you miss the debut of UFC 291 “Countdown” or just want to watch it again? Check out the co-main event preview now.

Did you miss the debut of UFC 291 “Countdown” or just want to watch it again? Check out the co-main event preview now.

The segment takes a special look at the light heavyweight bout between former light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (29-9-1 MMA, 12-6-1 UFC) and ex-middleweight champ [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who is moving up to 205 pounds.

UFC 291 takes place Saturday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

“Countdown” goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don’t miss the entire episode in the video below.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.

If not Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill eyes winner of Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira

UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill sees two options for his first title defense.

LAS VEGAS – UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] sees two options for his first title defense.

Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) captured the vacant heavyweight belt at UFC 283 in January when he battered Glover Teixeira for five rounds. His next assignment was already set; former champion [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), who vacated his belt after suffering a severe shoulder injury which required surgery.

Growing tired of waiting, Hill previously claimed that it’s the next man up if Prochazka isn’t ready to go soon. That next man up however will not be Magomed Ankalaev. Instead, Hill has his eyes on the winner of [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (29-9-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) vs. [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), which takes place in the UFC 291 co-headliner on July 29 at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.

“In my personal opinion, (Ankalaev) hasn’t earned the shot – just like Jan has to go out and get another shot, and get another win because it ended in a draw,” Hill told MMA Junkie Radio on Radio Row at UFC X during International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

“A lot of people feel Jan won that fight. Some people feel Magomed. Just because a lot of people feel that Magomed won the fight doesn’t mean he deserves a title shot. He’s in the same position that Jan is in. He needs to win another fight.”

Although he has no date or opponent finalized, Hill definitely expects to compete before the end of the year.

“One hundred percent, I expect to fight again this year,” Hill said. “I would have liked to have already fought again and been looking out to fight in another fight, but I definitely, 100 percent expect to fight before the end of this year.”

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Israel Adesanya reveals advice he gave Alex Pereira for Jan Blachowicz fight during airport run-in

UFC champ Israel Adesanya offered up some insight to Alex Pereira about his upcoming fight with Jan Blachowicz.

[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] gave [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] some insight ahead of his upcoming fight with [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag].

Pereira (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) makes his light heavyweight debut when he takes on Blachowicz (29-9-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) in the UFC 291 co-main event July 29 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Blachowicz handed middleweight champion Adesanya his first-career loss when he shut down his attempt to become dual champion at UFC 259. When Adesanya recently ran into former foe Pereira at the airport, it was initially awkward, but “The Last Stylebender” ended up giving him some advice on their common opponent.

“We talked, we went through security, took our shoes off,” Adesanya said on IMPAULSIVE. “And then we’re waiting for our bags to come through the belt, and then talked about – I was like, ‘Jan next, yeah?’ He’s fighting the guy, first MMA loss for me when I went up to 205 (pounds). He kinda has the same idea.

“Through our limited conversation skills, because of his English and my Portuguese, we kind of had the same idea of what’s gonna happen. But I had to let him know, I thought the same thing when I fought Jan. I thought Jan was gonna attack me a little bit more, but he was patient. So I kind of let him know, you be patient too. In more so words. I didn’t wanna say too much, but yeah.”

Adesanya previously predicted that Blachowicz would take Pereira down and beat him there just like he did in their fight, but he also thinks “Poatan” can shut his lights out.

“He can knock out Jan badly, because I hurt Jan,” Adesanya said. “I hurt Jan really bad, and that’s why Jan decided in the fourth round, ‘I’m gonna take him down’ and went for the takedown.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.

Chael Sonnen not impressed by Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira co-headliner at UFC 291

Chael Sonnen threw some serious shade at the UFC 291 fight between Jan Blachowicz and Alex Pereira.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] isn’t feeling the buzz for [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

Pereira (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) makes his light heavyweight debut against former champion Blachowicz (29-9-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) in the UFC 291 co-main event July 29 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Both Blachowicz and Pereira hold wins over UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya,and could emerge as title contenders with a win. But Sonnen doesn’t see either fighter as a draw.

“From the department of ‘who cares’ comes Blachowicz vs. Pereira,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “Well, I don’t mean that to sound like a jerk, but you got two guys that don’t have the ability to bring interest to anything. They’re just not equipped with that. So you’ve got to understand you’re dealing with two narcissists, both Blachowicz and Pereira. I never met them. You’re dealing with two narcissists clinically.”

Although Sonnen acknowledges that the stakes are high for the matchup, he doesn’t see it as a compelling storyline for the average viewer.

“Along with that narcissism comes an idea that everybody knows what it is that you have done,” Sonnen added. “Everybody knows the significance of this fight. I could make this a really great spoiler, and I could do it really quickly. They narcissistically believe that I already have, and I don’t mean me, your intellectual superior Chael Sonnen. I’m talking just the average viewer.

“The average viewer has already put together that we have a guy who beat a guy (Adesanya) three times vs. the guy where they fought once, and it was pretty competitive, but he got taken down, and we got a world champion here vs. a former world champion up here. This guy’s first time coming up, and this guy’s known for the power on his feet, but this guy is as technical as they come. They think that the world knows that, and they don’t. The viewer that watches every single Saturday doesn’t find what I just said to be interesting.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.

Daniel Cormier warns Alex Pereira ahead of UFC 291: ‘Can’t get hit by Jan Blachowicz’

Daniel Cormier says Alex Pereira has to be defensively sound against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291, otherwise the lights could go out.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] says [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] has to be defensively sound against [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] at UFC 291.

Pereira (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) will make his light heavyweight debut when he takes on Blachowicz (29-9-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) in the July 29 co-main event at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Pereira is coming off a brutal knockout loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 in April. In their fight prior, Pereira dethroned Adesanya to claim the middleweight title but was badly rocked at the end of Round 1. Considering the damage he’s taken in his past two outings, Cormier believes Pereira has to be very wary of Blachowicz’s power.

“We have seen Adesanya hurt Pereira in two fights,” Cormier said on “DC & RC.” “He can’t get hit by Jan Blachowicz. Blachowicz hits so hard, bro. I have seen Błachowicz almost decapitate guys: Luke Rockhold, Dominick Reyes. The way that he was knocking guys out for a while was very scary.”

Former light heavyweight champ Blachowicz’s “legendary Polish power” has shut the lights off fighters such as Corey Anderson, Rockhold and Reyes. Blachowicz failed to capture the vacant 205-pound belt at UFC 282 in December when he battled Magomed Ankalaev to a split draw but sees a win over former champ Pereira giving him another shot at gold.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.

Video: What’s the best fight from the UFC 291 and UFC 292 bookings?

The UFC announced a bunch of big fights for Salt Lake City in July and Boston in August. We debate which of them is most the intriguing.

The UFC announced a slew of new fights this past week for a pair of pay-per-views on opposite sides of the country.

UFC 291 is set for late July in Salt Lake City, and UFC 292 goes down three weeks later in Boston.

[autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] will rematch for the “BMF” title in the UFC 291 main event. And that main card also includes [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]’s light heavyweight debut vs. [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] in the co-headliner, Paulo Costa vs. Ikram Aliskerov, Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green and Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Holland.

At UFC 292 on Aug. 19, two title fights headline the bill. Bantamweight champion [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] in the main event, and women’s strawweight champ [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag] in the co-feature.

But which of those fights stands out as the most interesting in this early look ahead? Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Mike Bohn, Danny Segura and Brian “Goze” Garcia weighed in with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia. You can watch their discussion in the video above. Then don’t miss this week’s full episode below.

“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Monday LIVE on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel. You can watch this week’s episode in the video above.