UNLEASHED 
Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz is keenly anticipating his face-off against former Middleweight Champion Alex Pereira, who’s testing the waters at 205 pounds. Their battle takes center stage as the co-main event at UFC 291 on July 29.
Upon hearing that Pereira was stepping up to the light heavyweight division, Blachowicz was quick to grab this potentially career-defining opportunity. After a disappointing majority draw against Magomed Ankalaev, Blachowicz is eager to return to title contention.
“When I heard that he would come to our division, I just want to fight against him,” Blachowicz said on The MMA Hour. His enthusiasm led to swift negotiations, resulting in this eagerly awaited match.
Pereira earned a title shot in just his fifth professional MMA fight, his preexisting rivalry with Adesanya fueling his swift ascent. However, a knockout by Adesanya at UFC 287 ended Pereira’s reign in the 185-pound division. Instead of seeking a trilogy, Pereira opted to move up a weight class, and Blachowicz is keen to see how that plays out.
Blachowicz boasts a formidable track record with fighters transitioning from middleweight, notably breaking Luke Rockhold’s jaw when the American tried the same move. He also dealt Adesanya his only other defeat since joining the UFC roster.
“If you change weight category, you can spar in your gym with the bigger guys. But when you fight, it’s completely different,” Blachowicz shared. He is confident in his ability to put Pereira through the same trial-by-fire initiation into the 205-pound division.
Interestingly, the UFC wasn’t just receptive to Blachowicz’s proactive call-out; they also offered him a tempting incentive. If he defeats Pereira, a title shot awaits, likely pitting him against the winner of the anticipated showdown between current light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill and former champion Jiri Prochazka.
Blachowicz is well aware of the stakes. The excitement of possibly bringing the belt back home to Poland has only fueled his motivation further. However, he isn’t underestimating Pereira. His admiration for Pereira’s striking abilities has him looking forward to testing his own standup skills against one of the best.
“I want to check how my striking is going to look against him,” said Blachowicz. According to the former light heavyweight champion, beating Alex Pereira could be his golden ticket back to a title shot.
Blachowicz vs. Pereira: a clash of titans at UFC 291, Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. This is one fight fans will not want to miss.
