Jan Blachowicz is currently recovering from double shoulder surgery.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion expects to make his Octagon return at the end of the year and when he does, the power-punching Pole is hoping for a rematch against current 205-pound titleholder Alex Pereira.

“Every day is a little bit better, but still I need more time to recover and to fix correctly, so I think my next fight will be at the end of the year, not earlier,” Blachowicz told Fanatics View. “For sure not earlier. I would like to [fight in November or December]. When my physio say, ‘Okay Jan, you can go to the gym and do hard sparring session,’ and then I will know everything, when I can call to UFC and tell them, ‘Okay I will be ready at this time,’ or maybe a little bit later.”

Pereira defeated Blachowicz by split decision at UFC 291.

“He is not better fighter than me, and I believe that I deserve the rematch,” Blachowicz continued. “I prove when he fight against me, I still believe that I won this fight. Referee see different scores but I believe that I won this fight against him and I believe that I deserve for the rematch. He knocked out everybody, not me. When I come back, I believe that I can fight against him one more time.”

Pereira is expected to fight either Jiri Prochazka or Magomed Ankalaev next.

“I want to see fight Pereira against Ankalaev because (Ankalaev) is the hardest opponent for (Pereira) right now because I’m not in the division because I’m out (with injury) for a couple more months,” Blachowicz said. “So (Ankalaev) is the most dangerous fight for (Pereira). I would like to see this fight and then after this fight, he can go to heavyweight, but when I come back to fighting, he has to give me the rematch.”

A rematch for the belt, as well as for this “slimy” callout.

Jan Blachowicz is currently recovering from double shoulder surgery.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion expects to make his Octagon return at the end of the year and when he does, the power-punching Pole is hoping for a rematch against current 205-pound titleholder Alex Pereira.

“Every day is a little bit better, but still I need more time to recover and to fix correctly, so I think my next fight will be at the end of the year, not earlier,” Blachowicz told Fanatics View. “For sure not earlier. I would like to [fight in November or December]. When my physio say, ‘Okay Jan, you can go to the gym and do hard sparring session,’ and then I will know everything, when I can call to UFC and tell them, ‘Okay I will be ready at this time,’ or maybe a little bit later.”

Pereira defeated Blachowicz by split decision at UFC 291.

“He is not better fighter than me, and I believe that I deserve the rematch,” Blachowicz continued. “I prove when he fight against me, I still believe that I won this fight. Referee see different scores but I believe that I won this fight against him and I believe that I deserve for the rematch. He knocked out everybody, not me. When I come back, I believe that I can fight against him one more time.”

Pereira is expected to fight either Jiri Prochazka or Magomed Ankalaev next.

“I want to see fight Pereira against Ankalaev because (Ankalaev) is the hardest opponent for (Pereira) right now because I’m not in the division because I’m out (with injury) for a couple more months,” Blachowicz said. “So (Ankalaev) is the most dangerous fight for (Pereira). I would like to see this fight and then after this fight, he can go to heavyweight, but when I come back to fighting, he has to give me the rematch.”

A rematch for the belt, as well as for this “slimy” callout.

This weekend (Sat., May 11, 2024), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hits the road to to Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo., for UFC St. Louis. Though initial responses to the main event between Derrick Lewis vs. Rodrigo Nascimento were rather negative, the overall card has since come together to be better than expected. Joaquin Buckley hustling his way to the co-main event slot certainly helped, but all six of the main card fights appear to promise action or an early stoppage.

UFC St. Louis’ undercard leaves something to be desired outside of Slava Borshchev vs. Chase Hooper, but that’s not my responsibility here. Let’s dig into all the main card fights leading up to the co-main event:

Light Heavyweight: Alonzo Menifield (+165) vs. Carlos Ulberg (-225)

Best Win for Menifield? Jimmy Crute For Ulberg? Jung Da-Un
Current Streak: Menifield is unbeaten in his last five fights, while Ulberg has won five in a row
X-Factor: It’s a big step up in competition for Ulberg
How these two match up: This one might not last long …

Menifield has a stupid amount of power in his fists, and the problem is that “Atomic” is well aware of it. He’s guilty of failing to set up his biggest swings or develop much of a game outside of hitting absurdly hard, but in his defense, it works more often than not. Ulberg is also consistently knocking out his opposition, but it doesn’t usually come down to pure force. The Kiwi kickboxer does really good work at managing distance, using his feints to get a read on his opponent, then timing counter shots — classic City Kickboxing stuff.

This is a really major jump in competition for Ulberg. Menifield may not be a perfect technician, but he’s ranked No. 11 in the world for a reason. He has the ability to threaten Ulberg with his huge punches and ability to close the distance suddenly, and his occasional takedown attempts could prove a factor as well.

He’s also a dog … and we’ve never seen Ulberg in a war of attrition.

At the same time, Ulberg is simply the better striker by a fair margin, and he also hits hard enough to hurt his opponent. He’ll have to avoid any huge mistakes, but Ulberg should find success in his attempt to break into the Top 15.

Prediction: Ulberg via decision

Lightweight: Carlos Diego Ferreira (+200) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (-280)

Best Win for Ferreira? Anthony Pettis For Rebecki? Roosevelt Roberts
Current Streak: Ferreira won his last bout, while Rebecki is 3-0 in the UFC
X-Factor: Ferreira is 39 years old
How these two match up: Good Lightweights rarely fail to deliver great fights.

Ferreira achieved a lot more than most expected. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace developed his striker and wrestling to become a fierce pressure fighter, which resulted in a quality six-fight win streak that pushed him into the Top 10. He’s since fallen down the ranks a bit, but Ferreira remains a very dangerous veteran in a stacked division.

Poland’s Rebecki is one of many serious Lightweight prospects. 19-1 as a professional, the fireplug of a wrestler has a dominating top game and heavy hands, traits which have combined for 16 finishes so far.

This is a massive test for Rebecki, definitely the toughest opponent of his career. It also feels like one he should pass. The Lightweight fireplug is a really physical talent, and his wrestling seems like the perfect antidote for Ferreira’s pressure and aggression. Historically, takedowns and top control is the best way to defeat the Brazilian, and that fits Rebecki’s typical game well.

The fight will get interesting if and when it goes late. Ferreira is in great shape and knows how to keep the scrambles going, and he’s tough as nails. A finish is unlikely, so Rebecki is going to have to deal with his foe for all 15 minutes.

Let’s see how he handles it.

Prediction: Rebecki via decision

Featherweight: Alex Caceres (+150) vs. Sean Woodson (-205)

Best Win for Caceres? Sergio Pettis For Woodson? Charles Jourdain
Current Streak: Caceres lost his last bout, while Woodson is unbeaten in his last five
X-Factor: Caceres has a significant jiu-jitsu edge
How these two match up: I’m expecting a fun fight.

Caceres has been a quality member of UFC’s roster for more than a decade now. He’s achieved rankings at various points both as a Bantamweight and Featherweight, and generally has fought really well in recent years. He’s a sneaky kickboxer with an underrated grappling game, but he doesn’t always have the wrestling necessary to implement his jiu-jitsu.

Woodson is a statistical anomaly, a 6’2” Featherweight who lives up to his “Sniper” nickname. A long-time boxer, Woodson establishes his jab better than most and can really make opponents miss thanks to his massive reach and quality footwork.

On the whole, I think Caceres is generally the better fighter here. He’s more well-rounded and has way more high-level experience. Unfortunately, it feels like a bad match up for “Bruce Leeroy.”

Caceres fights largely at the kickboxing range, which is where Woodson excels. Generally, it’s hard to get him out of that mode. It takes a big punch or really solid wrestling game — neither of which are Caceres’ strengths. Most likely, we got a kickboxing battle in which Woodson’s faster hands and sharper combinations make the slight difference.

Prediction: Woodson via decision

Heavyweight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta (+140) vs. Robelis Despaigne (-185)

Best Win for Cortes-Acosta? Andrei Arlovski For Despaigne? Josh Parisian
Current Streak: Cortes-Acosta has won two in a row, whereas Despaigne recently won his UFC debut to improve to 5-0
X-Factor: Despaigne has almost no cage time
How these two match up: I wouldn’t count on this one seeing the third.

Cortes-Acosta has won four of his five Octagon bouts, establishing himself as a good boxer able to put numbers on his opponent. He’s not the heaviest handed man in the division, but there’s always a place for Heavyweights who can actually throw down for 15 full minutes. Despaigne, conversely, has an unknowable level of cardio. He’s never left the first round, and each of his last four wins lasted less than a minute combined! The Cuban Taekwondo Olympian is incredibly unproven, but obviously has serious potential as well.

So, this is the Heavyweight division. It’s important to keep your expectations measured. More than most any other class, we have seen plenty of hyped prospects exhausted or mentally broken when the going gets tough — it should almost be expected.

Is Cortes-Acosta the man to push Despaigne, however? I’m not really seeing it. That’ll probably take a wrestler with a brick jawline. Cortes-Acosta, conversely, is a striker facing a height and reach disadvantage who is going to engage a physically superior talent in his realm of strength.

It’s a big step up from Despaigne’s previous competition level, but one he seems likely to handle.

Prediction: Despaigne via knockout

‘X-Factor’ Picks for 2024: 22-9 (2)

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Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC St. Louis fight card right here, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card balance on ESPN (also on ESPN+) at 7 p.m. ET.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC St. Louis: “Lewis vs. Nascimento” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

A previous report suggested one of Garcia’s samples may have nandrolone metabolites in it. Further testing has now concluded it does not.

A closer analysis of Ryan Garcia’s drug test sample has cleared the boxer of using the steroid nandrolone, although Garcia will still have to answer for trace amounts of ostarine in drug tests leading up to his fight with Devin Haney.

Garcia defeated Haney via majority decision after a controversial lead-up to the fight which saw “King Ryan” miss weight by 3.2 pounds. Then news came out that two drug tests administered to Garcia on April 19th and April 20th tested positive for ostarine. The VADA report on the April 19th sample also suggested a nandrolone metabolite (the leftover junk after your body processes a substance) 19-norandrosterone may have been detected as well.

Now boxing reporter Dan Rafael is reporting that the April 19th sample has been put through more testing and VADA is now stating that there was no 19-norandrosterone detected.

“So yall realize I didn’t fail the tests now,” Garcia declared on X (formerly Twitter). “No substance other then this imaginary ostrich substance. Level so low wouldn’t have any effect. THEY TRIED BUT NO LIE STANDS PRAISE GOD.”

Ostarine may not technically be a steroid, but it is still considered a performance enhancing drug by any drug testing agency worth its salt. There is no minimum amount that is allowable, so Garcia is still in trouble no matter how trace the amount they found in his system.

That being said, ostarine has been making headlines for years in the sporting world because it regularly ends up in tainted supplements and products. If Garcia can prove he accidentally ingested ostarine through a tainted product, he may be able to clear his name.

Garcia’s B samples from the failed April 19th and 20th tests are set to be unsealed and tested on May 22nd with a representative from the fighter’s team on hand. No date has been announced by the New York Athletic Commission to deal with the failed drug tests.

The UFC is making it’s Saudi debut in June, but will return in 2025 with a much bigger event. Here’s all the details from the new deal the combat sports promotion signed with the Kingdom.

The UFC is strengthening its ties with Saudi Arabia, which will lead to “something big” happening during the 2024/2025 Riyadh Season.

For years the UFC has worked exclusively with Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. They were relatively early adopters of the UFC and bought a 10% stake in the fight promotion back in 2010. That was sold back to new owners Endeavor in 2018 but the relationship remained close and Abu Dhabi saved UFC’s bacon during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing the promotion to hold events there and avoid defaulting on their broadcast deal with ESPN.

That hasn’t stopped UFC from using its WWE contacts within new umbrella company TKO to forge new bonds with Saudi Arabia. After a rocky start that saw their first UFC Fight Night delayed due to a lack of starpower, the promotion will debut in the Kingdom on June 22nd with a card headlined by Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker.

Now we can expect an even bigger event coming soon after UFC CEO Dana White and Saudi General Entertainment Authority’s Turki Alalshikh announced an ‘extended partnership.’ Alalshikh has been behind a big push to transform the world of boxing, and this move shows he’s still got his eye on MMA.

“This is a strong message to the market with UFC,” Alalshikh said in a statement to ESPN. “We are working with everyone. My favorite is boxing, but we will try to make Riyadh one of the biggest cities around the world in MMA.”

Details are somewhat sparse, but the key feature for fans is a “major” UFC event in Saudi Arabia sometime during Riyadh Season, which runs from October til March. Riyadh Season promotes Saudi Arabia, and UFC will now promote Riyadh Season with a big sponsorship deal for UFC 306 at The Sphere.

“I’m excited about this deal,” Dana White said in a video on Turki Alalshikh’s X (formerly Twitter) account. “My goal from day one is to bring this all over the world. We’re going to do our first event in the Kingdom this year and now we just signed to do another one next year.”

There’s a lot of corporate synergy in play with this deal. ESPN reports that Saudi Arabia is looking to hold one of the major WWE events in the country: either Royal Rumble or even WrestleMania itself. We can’t imagine TKO moving WrestleMania to The Kingdom, but you never know with the amount of money being thrown around by these guys.

Oh, and Dana White made sure to get some Power Slap events included in the deal.

We’ll keep you in the know as details of this deal come out, when the second UFC Saudi Arabia card will take place, and who will be featured.