March 18, 2025 3: 30 pm ET
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 Carl