Jan Blachowicz is enjoying the best form of his UFC career, and says there’s a clear reason for his success.
Blachowicz (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) has won seven of his last eight and is riding a three-fight win streak following wins over Luke Rockhold, Ronaldo Souza, and most recently, a first-round knockout of Corey Anderson in February, as the big Pole positioned himself as the No. 1 contender at 205 pounds.
But Blachowicz didn’t live up to his potential early, going 2-6 to start off his UFC tenure. It was a run of form that prompted him to make a change as he returned to the man that got him to the dance, his old coach.
“Back to the roots,” Blachowicz told MMA Junkie. “I do a lot of changes in my life when I signed contract with the UFC, and that was some kind of mistakes, because I changed the gym when I signed contract with the UFC, and now I come back to my old coach.
“We do exactly the same as what I do before I fought in the UFC, and in the UFC now I’m one of the best in the world, and I’m gonna be the next champion because I believe in that. That’s it, just back to the roots. Old coach, old gym and do what’s worked for me.”
The battle for the next title shot appears to be a two-man race between Blachowicz and Dominick Reyes, but Blachowicz thinks he’s the more deserving since Reyes already fought, and lost, against Jones.
“I’ve done everything,” Blachowicz said. “Dominick, he had his chance. He don’t use it, and now it’s my turn. It’s a simple situation. I don’t know why they think about the rematch. I know it was a good fight, close fight, but he lost the fight, and now it’s my turn. Simple things. I’m next, and that’s it.”
The secret to Jan Blachowicz's recent UFC success? Going 'back to the roots'