“I gave the belt away for free,” Jan Blachowicz reflects on the worst performance of his career at UFC 267, targets Alexander Rakic fight next


“I gave the belt away for free,” Jan Blachowicz reflects on the worst performance of his career at UFC 267, targets Alexander Rakic fight next

Jan Blachowicz and Aleksandar Rakic

The former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz lost his title one month ago in a fight against Glover Teixeira at the main event of UFC 267. Blachowicz is the fan-favorite entering into this fight riding into this fight with a win against Israel Adesanya in his last fight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Still, Teixeira defeated him via second-round submission and created a major upset. Talking about his loss in his latest interview with Ariel Helwani for MMA Hour, Jan Blachowicz says, “Everything goes wrong, I shouldn’t fight that night but what can I do? I can just go back to the training, back to the gym, train harder and try to get the belt back and that’s it. I’m not going to be sad.”

“I’m not going to be thinking about the fight cause I don’t want to waste my life about something like this. I think about the fight, why it goes wrong but I don’t waste time being sad. I will not hide under the bed and cry. Do a little bit of a break, go on the holidays, vacation and now I’m back to the gym, back to the work. That’s it.”

Jan Blachowicz claims it was a mental lapse for him more than physically anything holding him back that day. He continued, “I wasn’t hurt, that was just a bad day. I think I would lose with anybody that night. I can’t explain myself. It wasn’t my night. That’s it. I think that’s it. Sometimes I need something like that. I think that I need to lose the fight, I need to take one step back to do two forward.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“When you look at my career, it’s always like this. So this time, I learned something from this fight, and I’m going to be a better fighter. Same thing as the Thiago Santos fight and different opponents who beat me.” {H/t MMA Fighting}

Jan Blachowicz wants to fight a higher-ranked opponent next, pitches Rakic’s name

Jan Blachowicz
Jan Blachowicz

Jan Blachowicz aims to return inside the Octagon in March 2022 and former Light Heavyweight title challenger, Anthony Smith offers to fight him. But Blachowicz is looking for a highly ranked opponent for his next fight and he pitches the name of Aleksandar Rakic.

Blachowicz continued, “I cannot tell you but I will not fight against Anthony Smith, I don’t choose opponents. Maybe they asked about Aleksandar Rakic.”

“It’s a good fight, he’s a strong, real fighter. All fighters in the UFC, top 10, top five, they are amazing fighters, and it’s a pleasure for me to fight against all of them. Rakic is good for the next fight but we will see.” {H/t MMA Fighting}

ADVERTISEMENT

Also Read: “It’s not over, I’m not a quitter,” Jan Blachowicz vows to wrap UFC Light Heavyweight title around his waist after UFC 267 loss.