Jan Blachowicz is determined to leave no doubt in his highly-anticipated rematch with Aleksandar Rakic.
The former light heavyweight champion Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) will face off against Rakic (14-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) on Jan. 20 at UFC 297 from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Blachowicz previously defeated Rakic by TKO due to injury in May 2022, and now, Rakic’s unrelenting pursuit of a rematch is something that Blachowicz plans to put to rest in their upcoming fight.
“This is how I think about this: I beat him one more time, I break him again, and that’s it,” Blachowicz told Middle Easy. “And I just shut the people out, and that’s it. Then we’ll see what’s going to be next. Now I focus only about him, but I think this is a good fight for me.”
Judges had their first fight scored 1-1 going into Round 3, but Blachowicz aims to end the rematch in more definitive fashion.
“Similar to our first fight but this time I just knock him out,” Blachowicz said. “Clear KO, nothing to say, nothing to do anymore. He’s going to have nothing to say after this.”
Since their first fight, Rakic has not competed, while Blachowicz has fought twice. He expects the long layoff to impact Rakic.
“He’s coming back after surgery and injury, and I’m going to be ready for a better Rakic, but I never lost a rematch, and this time will be the same,” Blachowicz said.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.
Sarah Foster is your guide to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. With a deep understanding of MMA’s intricacies and a passion for the sport, she offers comprehensive coverage of MMA events, fighter profiles, and in-depth analysis of fights. Sarah’s commitment to the octagon ensures that readers stay engaged with the latest developments in the MMA world.
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