Aleksandar Rakic says Jan Blachowicz out of UFC 297, calls for Jiri Prochazka to step in

According to Aleksandar Rakic, Jan Blachowicz is out of their fight at UFC 297.

Rakic (14-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is scheduled to run things back with former light heavyweight champion Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) on Jan. 20 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, but Rakic claimed on Thursday in an X post that Blachowicz has withdrawn.

Blachowicz has not commented on Rakic’s claim as of this writing, nor has the UFC made an announcement regarding the matchup.

You can never lose a rematch when you pull out for the second time. Legendary Bullshit.

Let’s see if the Samurai has the balls to step up on Jan 20th. @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite

— Aleksandar Rakic (@rakic_ufc) December 7, 2023

“You can never lose a rematch when you pull out for the second time. Legendary Bullsh*t. Let’s see if the Samurai has the balls to step up on Jan 20th. @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite.”

“The Samurai” is in reference to former champion Jiri Prochazka (29-4-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), whom Rakic has been eager to fight and traded barbs with in the past. Prochazka is coming off a knockout loss to Alex Pereira in their vacant title fight at UFC 295 in November.

Rakic hasn’t competed since blowing out his knee in a TKO loss to Blachowicz in May 2022. Prior to that, he scored back-to-back wins over Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 297.