Jan Blachowicz claims shoulder injury left him with ‘The Power of a 2-Year-Old girl’ amid UFC 297 exit

Jan Blachowicz claims shoulder injury left him with power of 2 year old girlWhile on the sidelines awaiting surgery for a shoulder injury, Jan Blachowicz has chosen to open up about the…

Jan Blachowicz claims shoulder injury left him with power of 2 year old girl

While on the sidelines awaiting surgery for a shoulder injury, Jan Blachowicz has chosen to open up about the impact this injury has had on his legendary “Polish power.

Once on top of the world, it seemed as if any foe was destined to crumble against the vicious onslaught of the unstoppable “Polish power”. This is what Blachowicz’s sinister power had begun to be referred to as, and time and time again the Polish warrior never failed to let it shine.

At UFC 259, Blachowicz shut down Israel Adesanya’s attempts at becoming a double champ, and at that moment the humble warrior from Poland seemed as if he was on top of the world. However, it seems as if every great warrior has an Achilles heel, and for Blachowicz: it was his shoulder.

The shoulder injury began irritating him sometime around 2021, and this would lead to a 1-2-1 streak. He lost his light heavyweight title to Glover Teixeira, had what some consider to be a fluke injury over Aleksander Rakic (because of an injury), and then most recently: lost a split decision to Alex Pereira.

Jan Blachowicz opens up about the loss of his legendary “Polish Power”

“I feel it for like three years, something like this,” Jan Blachowicz said, speaking about his shoulder injury in an interview with BJPENN.com (via MMA Mania).

“I feel pain in my shoulders, but I accept the pain. Last three months, two months, I started losing my power, my strength. 40 percent goes, I tried and do something with physiotherapy and doctors, and they tried to fix it but every training was worse,” Blachowicz continued.

“When I did wrestling, I’d hold someone and they’d just grab my hand and open it like this, too easy. We did an MRI on both shoulders because I feel pain in both of them, and I need to clean it, if I were to clean it, I can come back to training. They said after this, after a good recovery, my power will be back. I feel pain, but the pain is okay. The power, I feel like a two-year-old girl, so it’s not possible to prepare for a fight.”

This problem has kept him from fighting, as well. The injury is actually what caused the Polish warrior to cancel his rematch with Aleksander Rakic.

“I wanted to do this fight, but I cannot be ready 100 percent,” he said. “I’m just sad, but as I said, I don’t want to waste my energy thinking about what happened, I have to save this energy for surgery and recovery.”

Jan Blachowicz went on to speak about his return to MMA, and although he’d like to return faster: he admitted it would likely be summertime before fans could see him in action.

“Something like that,” Jan Blachowicz sighed. “I was hoping for the first part of the new year, but we will see. First of all, I need to do this surgery and rehab, then we can start thinking about it. I need to go to the gym and do a sparring session, I want to feel my power again and I can find a new fight.”

Do you think Jan Blachowicz will ever recapture his lost light-heavyweight title?

Jan Blachowicz is out of UFC 297 rematch with Aleksandar Rakic, will undergo shoulder surgery

Jan BlachowiczJan Blachowicz is officially out of his UFC 297 rematch with Aleksandar Rakic. The former light heavyweight announced on…

Jan Blachowicz

Jan Blachowicz is officially out of his UFC 297 rematch with Aleksandar Rakic.

The former light heavyweight announced on social media that a shoulder injury sustained while training has forced him to bow out of the January scrap. He will undergo surgery to repair the damage.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” Blachowicz wrote on Instagram. “It’s hard to express how I feel because it’s a mixture of anger and sadness. Withdrawing from a fight due to injury is one of the most difficult decisions a fighter can make. However, sometimes there is no other option, especially when you are competing in the top five and want to put on a show at the highest possible level.

“Instead of fighting for the best shape, I fight with the pain during every training session. I did everything I could, but my shoulders need surgery. In this state, continuing preparations and entering the Octagon would be irresponsible and stupid.

“I always say that when I go into a fight, I must be 100 percent ready. I owe it to myself, my coaches, my opponent and, above all, the fans. Thank you in advance for your support! I am waiting for the date of surgery, after which rehabilitation and return to training will follow. I promise I will come back stronger!”

It’s an undeniably disappointing turn of events for Blachowicz who was intent on returning to the win column following his split decision loss against new light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, in July.

Aleksandar Rakic calls for jiri prochazka to replace jan blachowicz at UFC 297

In response to the new, Aleksandar Rakic wasted no time calling on former 205-pound titleholder Jiri Prochazka to step in and take Blachowicz’s spot.

“You can never lose a rematch when you pull out for the second time. Legendary bullsh*t,” Rakic wrote. “Let’s see if the samurai has the balls to step up on Jan. 20th.”

Prochazka gladly accepted the offer, but with him being less than a month removed from a second-round knockout loss to Alex Pereira, ‘Denisa’ is unable to make the relatively quick turnaround that Rakic is requesting. However, Prochazka did counter with an offer to meet the Austrian standout in February or March.

“I am in, but the earliest time I can be in octagon is February/March,” Prochazka wrote. “Accept?”

With Aleksandar Rakic still keen on keeping his January slot, it remains to be seen if the UFC pursues another opponent for ‘Rocket’ or pushes his next appearance back to accommodate Prochazka’s recovery.

Emanating from the mysterious land of Toronto, Canada, UFC 297 will feature two massive world title fights, including the first defense of newly minted middleweight champion Sean Strickland. ‘Tarzan’ puts his 185-pound crown on the line against No. 2 ranked contender Dricus Du Plessis in the evening’s main event.

In the co-main event, Mayra Bueno Silva and Octagon veteran Raquel Pennington will battle it out for the vacant women’s bantamweight title.

Alex Pereira reveals stunning weight gain ahead of Jan Balchowicz fight at UFC 291: ‘I would say 225lbs’

alex pereiraFormer UFC middleweight champion, Alex Pereira discloses weight gain for his light-heavyweight debut. Weight cutting has, and seemingly always will be, a massive part of the sport – athletes want every advantage they can when going into a fight. While most fighters cut some weight, others take it to the extreme and will sweat out […]

alex pereira

Former UFC middleweight champion, Alex Pereira discloses weight gain for his light-heavyweight debut.

Weight cutting has, and seemingly always will be, a massive part of the sport – athletes want every advantage they can when going into a fight. While most fighters cut some weight, others take it to the extreme and will sweat out an enormous amount of weight.

Pereira would certainly fit into the latter category – the Brazilian was enormous at middleweight and even when moving up to face Jan Blachowicz still looked the bigger man. ‘Poatan’ stands a legitimate 6’5, and when talking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour revealed how much weight he cut for his last fight and his days at 185lb.

“I would say maybe 225, 224, something like that,” Pereira said. “During the fights at 185, I probably would be in the cage around 210, but at the end of the possible hydration, drinking my fluids and everything, I would probably go to 215 but fighting at 210. My camps were around the same weight. It doesn’t matter for which weight class.” (H/T MiddleEasy)

Alex Pereira U-turns on moving back down to middleweight

Pereira has previously sated that he would move back down to middleweight to face off with Israel Adesanya. However, Pereira does not seem too keen on this anymore, which is probably a good thing after putting on weight to move up in weight.

“No, no. It’s not in my plans,” Pereira said. “My plan was if Israel Adesanya was still the champion there, maybe win the light heavyweight belt and make a fight with him. But now, no. Sean’s my friend, and also, it’s not a weight cut I’m looking to do. I always made weight, never missed weight or anything like that, but it is a hard weight cut, so right now it’s not in my interest.”

Cutting back down in weight after putting on size has been proven as a bad move for fighters over time, it has impacted performance and punch resistance.

Alex Pereira talks with The MMA Hour

Will Alex Pereira win the UFC light-heavyweight title?

Jan Blachowicz eyes UFC heavyweight move, fight with Tom Aspinall: ‘That would be very good for me’

Jan Blachowicz calls for UFC heavyweight move and fight with Tom Aspinall good for meFormer undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz is weighing up a move to the UFC’s heavyweight ranks following his decision loss to fellow former titleholder, Alex Pereira at the end of last month – and suggests an immediate showdown with recent big-winner, Tom Aspinall. Blachowicz, who most recently co-headlined UFC 291 at the end of […]

Jan Blachowicz calls for UFC heavyweight move and fight with Tom Aspinall good for me

Former undisputed light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz is weighing up a move to the UFC’s heavyweight ranks following his decision loss to fellow former titleholder, Alex Pereira at the end of last month – and suggests an immediate showdown with recent big-winner, Tom Aspinall.

Blachowicz, who most recently co-headlined UFC 291 at the end of July in Salt Lake City, Utah, suffered a close, split decision loss to former middleweight champion, Pereira, in the Brazilian’s first venture at the light heavyweight limit during his brief Octagon tenure.

Jan Blachowicz eyes heavyweight landing against Tom Aspinall

And the Pole, who struck vacant gold against Dominick Reyes back in 2020 before successfully defending the title against incumbent middleweight titleholder, Israel Adesanya the following year, has revealed he has plans to notify the UFC of plans to make a stunning heavyweight division climb.

“Of course, why not?” Jan Blachowicz told Sportsnaut of a heavyweight division move. “You opened something in my mind, so yeah, we’re going to ask UFC about the opportunity of heavyweight. It’s something I have to think about.”

I need to watch them carefully, because when I watch the heavyweights I just watch for the fight,” Jan Blachowicz explained. “I don’t watch to analyse them, but (Tom) Aspinall did a great job in his last fight. That would be something very good for me for the first first stop in heavyweight.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

As for Aspinall, the Atherton native most recently headlined a UFC London event back in July against Polish veteran, Marcin Tybura, marking his return from a catastrophic knee injury the year before with a blistering opening round TKO win.

The British heavyweight has noted his intentions in landing a heavyweight title fight with the current division champion, Jon Jones, with the Endicott native set to headline UFC 295 in November at Madison Square Garden. 

Would you like to see Jan Blachowicz fight Tom Aspinall next?

Jan Blachowicz claims robbery after loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 291: ‘Bunch of thieves, they robbed me’

Jan Blachowicz claims he was robbed by judges in decision loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 291Former UFC light-heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz reacts to his loss to Alex Pereira last night at UFC 291. In a fight to determine who will face Jiri Prochazka for the now vacant light-heavyweight title, Pereira and Blachowicz would do battle over a competitive three rounds. The pair both entered the contest hungry to regain UFC […]

Jan Blachowicz claims he was robbed by judges in decision loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 291

Former UFC light-heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz reacts to his loss to Alex Pereira last night at UFC 291.

In a fight to determine who will face Jiri Prochazka for the now vacant light-heavyweight title, Pereira and Blachowicz would do battle over a competitive three rounds. The pair both entered the contest hungry to regain UFC gold, knowing it was just within arm’s length.

Pereira entered the contest just three months after dropping this middleweight title to Israel Adesanya via a dramatic KO. The Brazilian elected to move up in weight to 205lb and was immediately matched with the No.3 ranked Pole.

Blachowicz came in looking to bonce back from a disappoint last outing against Magomed Ankalaev last December. The fight, which was for the vacant light-heavyweight title would end in a draw after a lacklustre affair.

Jan Blachowicz Vs. Alex Pereira decision

After showing a variability, Blachowicz was expected to test Pereira’s grappling and the 40-year-old wasted no time in doing so. Quickly looking for the single leg, Blachowicz fought through Pereira’s guillotine attempt to land a takedown. From there, Blachowicz would threaten submissions and control ‘Poatan’ for the remainder of the first round.

However, Pereira would bounce back by fending off Blachowicz’s attempts to grapple while showing off his elite striking. Pereira enjoyed the striking success in the second and third, although Blachowicz was certainly not outclassed in this department, did sustain serious damage his leg.

Blachowicz did end up on top in the final round but did not land any particularly damaging shots. At the end of the contest, the score cards read 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 in favour of Pereira via split decision.

Online opinion seems to be split, with a considerable amount of people awarding it to Blachowicz. Posting to his Instagram, he would react to the score cards – claiming robbery.

Bunch of thieves, they robbed me. Anyway, thank you all for your support. I’ll be back,” said Jan Blachowicz.

Who do you think won, Jan Blachowicz or Alex Pereira?

Alex Pereira ready for shot at the 205 title following win over Jan Blachowicz: ‘My focus is always the belt’

Alex PereiraAlex Pereira needed three fights in order to earn a shot at the middleweight title. When it comes to the light heavyweight championship, he may only need one. On Saturday night, ‘Poatan’ scored another big win inside the Octagon, leaving Salt Lake City with a split decision victory over former 205-pound king Jan Blachowicz. With […]

Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira needed three fights in order to earn a shot at the middleweight title. When it comes to the light heavyweight championship, he may only need one.

On Saturday night, ‘Poatan’ scored another big win inside the Octagon, leaving Salt Lake City with a split decision victory over former 205-pound king Jan Blachowicz. With a W over the No. 3 ranked contender in the division, Alex Pereira could very well be next in line for a shot at the vacant light heavyweight title.

Following his victory at UFC 291, Alex Pereira made it abundantly clear that a shot at the 205-pound title is the next logical step and the only thing that interests him.

“My focus is always the belt,” Pereira said through an interpreter during his post-fight interview. “I want to fight for the belt, it doesn’t matter against who.”

Is Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka the Fight to Make?

Currently, the light heavyweight strap is without an owner after Jamahal Hill vacated the title after sustaining an injury that could leave him on the sidelines for the next year. Meanwhile, former champion Jiri Prochazka is nearing a return to the Octagon this fall, potentially setting the stage for a clash between Pereira and Prochazka.

Recent rumors have also suggested that reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya could once again venture to the land of the light heavyweights for a potential trilogy bout with his Brazilian boogeyman at 205. For the moment though, it looks like ‘The Last Stylebender’ will stay put at 185 for a title tilt with outspoken middleweight contender and former Pereira opponent, Sean Strickland.

As for Jan Blachowicz, the Polish standout is now winless in three of his last four, including a split draw against Magomed Ankalaev last year. Considering the close nature of his loss to Pereira, Blachowicz could earn himself a rematch but the former champ definitely has some work to do before he can get another crack at the light heavyweight title.