Jan Blachowicz hopes to take title back from Glover Teixeira after UFC on ESPN 36

LAS VEGAS – Jan Blachowicz wants to return the favor to Glover Teixeira, and he hopes he gets the chance to do it.

Teixeira (33-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) took the light heavyweight title from Blachowicz (28-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC) with a submission victory at UFC 267 in October in a somewhat stunning outcome. Both men have now moved on with their careers and are scheduled for upcoming fights, but if each secures victories, there’s a chance they could be back on a collision course.

Blachowicz must first take care of business Saturday, though, when meets Aleksandar Rakic (14-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in the UFC on ESPN 36 main event. The fight takes place at the UFC Apex and airs on ESPN2 while also streaming on ESPN+. Less than one month later, Teixeira will attempt to make his first title defense against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 275 on June 11.

Deep down, Blachowicz hopes the Brazilian retains, because he wants a chance to take back what Teixeira ripped away from him.

“If it’s Glover who fought me, it will be the same (result),” Blachowicz told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC on ESPN 36 media day. “He’ll take down Jiri and finish the fight on the ground. But Jiri’s a crazy fighter, wild style. You never know what he’s going to do.

“A little bit (I hope Teixeira wins), yes, because I would like to do rematch with him and take the belt from his hands. And I hope if he defends the belt, he will not retire.”

Blachowicz, No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie light heavyweight rankings, admits life isn’t quite the same without UFC gold in his possessions. His journey to the belt was a long, difficult one that many people never believed he could accomplish.

Those same critics will now argue that at 39, Blachowicz is now even more unlikely to be able to repeat history. He disagrees, though, and said his determination is wholly different than it was during his first run at the title.

“My hunger level is much bigger than before because I was the champion,” Blachowicz said. “I know how it feels, and I know how to be the best in the world, and I want to feel it again. Much more than ever. It’s much like ‘Lord of the Rings.’ You know Gollum? The ring is his precious. I am like Gollum. That is my precious. I want to get the belt back.”

Blachowicz said he’s confident that no matter who emerges from the UFC 275 title fight between Teixeira and Prochazka, he should be in a good position for a title shot if he emerges from his fight successfully.

Over the course of his career, Blachowicz has fought multiple generations of opponents who bring all sorts of styles to the table. He doesn’t view Rakic as someone who strays from the norm of what he’s seen, but he doesn’t think that means it’ll be a simple fight.

In fact, Blachowicz said he’s preparing for a handful.

“I’ve been in this sport almost all my life,” Blachowicz said. “I start training when I was nine years old, so I feel everything – inside the octagon and out of it. We’ll see. He’s a very dynamic, powerful guy. He looks like he’s very strong, powerful kicks. But I think I’ve seen everything before – nothing new for me. But I have to be ready. I have a lot of respect for him because he’s a great fighter. It’s going to be a tough fighter, for sure. I have to be ready for a very tough fight.”