Jan Blachowicz plans to steal Alex Pereira’s title shot

Jan Blachowicz is urging the UFC brass not to pencil in Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2 as the next light heavyweight title fight until after UFC Fight Night 255.

Former 205-pound champion Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) returns from a career-long layoff in Saturday’s co-main event when he takes on surging contender Carlos Ulberg at The O2 in London (ESPN+) in a fight with significant implications on the upper tier of the weight class.

There was a solid chance the winner would be at the front of the line for a title shot until the landscape of the weight class shifted earlier this month when Ankalaev took the belt from Pereira at UFC 313. All signs point to an immediate rematch, with UFC CEO Dana White stating it would “probably” happen next, while Ankalaev called for it as recently at Tuesday morning.

Blachowicz has rematch desires of his own, however. After fighting Ankalaev to a split draw in a vacant championship bout at UFC 282 in December 2022, he intends to change the narrative with his performance.

“I will make everything to change this on Saturday. After my win against Ulberg, I’m going to change this and I believe after I beat Carlos and I’m going to be next contender for the title.”

Although Blachowicz hasn’t seen action since July 2023, and spent much of his hiatus recovering from a career-threatening shoulder surgery, he said he is feeling healthy and confident he will pick up right where he left off.

Blachowicz, 42, thinks Ulberg (10-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) is matchup suited well for him to return to, as well. The City Kickboxing fighter is riding a seven-fight winning streak in the division and is looking to take his career to the next level.

The situation reminds Blachowicz of when he faced the then-undefeated Israel Adesanya in March 2021 and handed him his first MMA loss. Ulberg comes from the same team, and Blachowicz expects the same result.

“We do a great job with my team,” Blachowicz said. “Every fighter and every fight is a little bit different, so I have to be ready for a completely different fighter than Adesanya. But I think we’ve got a plan for him and it’s going to be a good plan. We’ve got plan, but I also know how to feel the moment and go in there and fight.

“I believe in that, I will do everything I can to knock him out.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.