Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz is set to return from the wilderness at UFC London this Saturday.
42-year-old Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) takes on the 205-pound division’s hottest prospect Carlos Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in the co-main event this weekend following a two-year layoff.
Blachowicz is eager to remind everyone of the qualities that helped him win the UFC title back in 2020, but he is aware of the threat his Kiwi opponent brings to the table.
“He’s a kickboxer, very good kickboxer,” Blachowicz told the reporters in attendance at UFC London media day. “Good left hand, very fast, good movement on the feet, but I’ve got very big experience, and I feel everything inside the octagon.
“So, it’s another fighter I have to beat, and that’s it. All respect to him. I have to be careful all the time, but I feel everything. I also have some questions, and I’m going to have answers Saturday, and I’m waiting for that.”
Ulberg is one of the light heavyweight division’s most dangerous strikers and lands an average of 7.28 significant strikes per round, the highest strike rate in UFC light heavyweight history. Despite this, Blachowicz sees himself finishing “Black Jag” on the feet.
“In my head, visualization training is third-round KO,” Blachowicz said.
Blachowicz Envisions Dream Ending To His Career
Blachowicz recently outlined his dream triple-headed fight schedule to finish his career on a high. The veteran believes a win over Ulberg this weekend will earn him a title shot against Magomed Ankalaev, and a victory there will result in a big-money fight against Alex Pereira, after which he can ride off into the sunset.
This ambitious plan has given him the motivation to show UFC fans this weekend exactly how good he believes he still is.
“I see keys in standup, also in wrestling, also in jiu-jitsu,” Blachowicz said of his fight vs. Ulberg. “So, I just have to find a hole in the fight and use it. I’m ready for that. With all respect to him, he’s a good kickboxer, good fighter, but I think I’m better in every part of the fight. Even experience is on my side. He’s younger. For sure, this is on his side, but I’ve still got the fire inside me, and you’re going to see it on Saturday.”
