Former light heavyweight champion blasts the UFC for 'protecting' Alex Pereira with recent title fight booking
20/08/2024 12:36
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz has blasted the UFC for protecting Alex Pereira by giving him a fight against Khalil Rountree Jr instead of making him fight himself or Magomed Ankalaev.
Last week, UFC CEO Dana White shockingly announced that light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira would defend his title against number eight ranked, Khalil Rountree Jr at UFC 307, instead of fighting number two ranked Magomed Ankalaev.
The news didn’t sit well with several of the other fighters at the top of the 205lb division. The one with the grounds to be most annoyed, Ankalaev, actually took the news relatively well. Former champion, Jamahal Hill, though, did not and was confused how ‘War Horse’ had been rewarded with a title shot.
Jan Blachowicz blasts the UFC for ‘protecting’ Alex Pereira with surprising booking
Former king of the division, Jan Blachowicz has been subtly campaigning for a rematch against ‘Poatan’, however, it was never a fight the promotion was likely to make considering he is yet to fight again since the split decision loss.
Despite that, the 41-year-old has made his feelings towards Pereira’s fight booking very clear, and has criticised the UFC for ‘protecting’ the Brazilian champion by giving him another favourable matchup.
“No f****** idea (why they went with this fight), you tell me because I am confused, what the f***, you know. Why did they book Magomed Ankalaev with (Aleksandar) Rakic, why? Why don’t they ask me about (fighting Pereira), maybe I’d be ready a little bit earlier, nobody asked me. I feel like it’s special protection for Pereira,” Blachowicz said in an interview with Middle Easy.
“I believe that I won my fight against him and maybe they don’t want to make that fight again because they know this time he’s going to lose 100%. Maybe that’s also why they don’t want to give Ankalaev to him because Ankalaev is also very strong… Maybe they want to make another nice win for him,” he continued.
Błachowicz has undoubtedly given Pereira his toughest test at 205lbs, as he was the only opponent that actually attempted to wrestle the Brazilian striker.
- CLOUT CHASER:Jamahal Hill rips into 'clout chaser' Magomed Ankalaev and claims he will step in to fight him
Jan Blachowicz wants to fight Jiri Prochazka in December
The Polish fighter was scheduled to fight Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 297 earlier this year, but he had to withdrew because of a shoulder injury, which subsequently required surgery.
With that, the 41-year-old made it clear he is looking to return to action in December, and revealed that he has spoken to the UFC as recently as a few weeks ago.
“A week ago or maybe two (I spoke to the UFC). I just said I would be ready in December and also I heard Pereira after the Prochazka fight said he also would next fight in December, now they make his fight a little bit earlier,” Blachowicz said.
With Blachowicz being ranked fourth in the division, there are a few fresh matchups for him at the top of the division, and he has highlighted two names he is hoping to fight next.
“For me, what makes sense is either him (Jamahal Hill) or Jiri Prochazka. We will see, I think Jiri is in a dark place right now so I hope he will come back and we make this fight because it will be a very good and exciting fight, so if not Pereira, I would like to fight against Prochazka,” Blachowicz called for.
Jiri Prochazka was recently in attendance for UFC 305 and following the event, the former champion teased online that he has a fight booked and will let his fans know in the coming days.
