Former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz is set to undergo shoulder surgery, preventing him from participating in his scheduled rematch against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 297 on Jan. 20.
Jan Blachowicz, the former light heavyweight champ, is headed for surgery. This means he won’t be able to compete in his rematch against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 297 on Jan. 20.
Blachowicz has revealed that he got injured during training. This injury is so severe that it’s not just knocking him out of the fight, but also requires surgery to repair the damage done.
Blachowicz took to Instagram to express his disappointment. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” he wrote. His emotions are a mix of anger and sadness. He admits that withdrawing from a fight due to injury is one of the toughest decisions a fighter can make.
But sometimes, there’s no other choice. This is especially true when you’re competing in the top five and want to put on a show at the highest possible level. He’s been fighting the pain during every training session, instead of fighting for the best shape. Despite his best efforts, his shoulders need surgery. He believes that continuing preparations and entering the Octagon in this state would be irresponsible and stupid.
Blachowicz always insists on being 100 percent ready before a fight. He feels he owes it to himself, his coaches, his opponent, and most importantly, the fans. He’s grateful for the support and is now waiting for the surgery date. After that, he’ll focus on rehabilitation and getting back to training. He promises to come back stronger.
This is a blow for Blachowicz, who was hoping to bounce back after a razor-close split decision loss to current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in July. Now, with surgery on the horizon and his 41st birthday approaching in February, he’ll have to figure out when he can fight again.
As for Rakic, he’s already looking for a new opponent. He’s hoping that former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka will accept his challenge for January. Rakic didn’t hold back his feelings about Blachowicz’s injury. “You can never lose a rematch when you pull out for the second time. Legendary bulls***,” he said. He’s eager to see if the “samurai” will step up on Jan. 20th.
Prochazka did respond to Rakic’s callout. But he admitted that as much as he’d like to accept the fight, he won’t be able to return as early as January. “I am in, but the earliest time I can be in the octagon is February/March,” Prochazka wrote. “Accept?”
The UFC hasn’t made a decision yet. Rakic is still hoping to compete in January, but Prochazka isn’t available then.
UFC 297 is scheduled for Jan. 20 in Toronto. The event will be headlined by middleweight champion Sean Strickland in his first title defense against Dricus du Plessis. A new women’s bantamweight champion will also be crowned in a fight between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva.