Aleksandar Rakic admits he didn’t expect Jan Blachowicz to lose his UFC light heavyweight title, but that doesn’t mean he’s taking him lightly.
Blachowicz was submitted by Glover Teixeira at UFC 267 and with the Brazilian expected to make his first title defense against Jiri Prochazka, Rakic (14-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) drew the former champion in the UFC Fight Night headliner on March 26 in Columbus, Ohio.
Blachowicz (28-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC) entered the Teixeira fight on the heels of bouncing UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya out of the ranks of the unbeaten, so Rakic didn’t see his lopsided loss to Teixeira coming. That being said, Rakic expects Blachowicz to come into their fight with a chip on his shoulder.
“I was very surprised,” Rakic told MMA Junkie. “I talked to many friends and the coaches, and they asked me about the fight and I said, ’70 percent for Jan and 30 percent for Glover.’ So the fight happened, and Glover did his thing. This was his last chance of his life, and he went in and basically did what he does best – coming forward like Mike Tyson style, head movement and put pressure against the cage, throw some hooks, and go for a double leg. Basically he did a great job, and he was able to control Jan in the whole first round and the second he submits him.
“But I don’t want to underestimate Jan Blachowicz. He was a champion, he beat Israel Adesanya, he had some good fights in the UFC. Maybe this was not his night, and I guess he’ll be motivated in the fight against me. He’s a tough opponent, for sure, he’s a former champion. But look, I’m gonna turn 30 in a few months, and I’m getting now in my prime, and I feel it in the training. Also mentally and physically and a man in his prime, especially me, it’s gonna be a good fight, and I’m gonna be well prepared for him.”
Blachowicz claimed that he just had an off night against Teixeira and that he would have lost to anyone on that night. But Rakic questions some of Blachowicz’s decision making on the ground and his lack of sense of urgency.
“A fight is a fight and you can be the best prepared in the world, but if it’s not your day – I believe him,” Rakic said. “I believe him, but what I don’t understand is, I think he could do much more than he did in the fight. For example, in the first round when Glover controlled him and was in his full guard, why didn’t he start to stand up? Why didn’t he even try to stand up? Why didn’t he shrimp? Why didn’t he put his back on the fence and use the fence to stand up. He didn’t even try this.
“So I was asking myself why is he accepting the floor so long. He’s a great grappler, he’s a blackbelt like Glover. It could be true what he said, I don’t know. He was upset, you can see it. But if it’s not my day and I feel it’s not my day, I’m still gonna give everything at this point and try to finish the fight in the fastest way to end this fight and end this day at least. He’s an awesome fighter, I respect him as a fighter, he’s great. But like I said, I’m a man on a mission. I have a hell of a team behind me, and I’m getting into my prime.”
Aleksandar Rakic: Despite title loss, Jan Blachowicz ‘a tough opponent for sure’