Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz isn’t happy that he has been left on the scrapheap of challengers at 205-pounds.
The Pole, who lost the strap to Glover Teixeira in October of last year, had been reckoned as the presumptive next challenger to Jiri Prochazka — but the Czech champ has suggested in recent days that he would be more keen on running it back against Teixeira, the man from whom he won the title last month. It is thought that Prochazka was dissatisfied with the manner of his win against Brazilian veteran Teixeira and is seeking another opportunity to turn in what he would consider to be a performance befitting a world champion.
This doesn’t sit well with Blachowicz, however. After losing the belt, he picked up a win against another contender, Aleksander Rakic, after the Austrian injured his knee in the third — and he has reminded Prochazka online that he had promised him a shot at the throne if both won their respective recent fights.
“Jan is for me the biggest challenge” – your words.
Respect you Champ, but the samurai code was not upheld.— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) July 11, 2022
With Glover, it’s a matter of honor and duty to show pure Fight. This is more than a challenge.
— Jiri BJP Prochazka (@jiri_bjp) July 11, 2022
“‘Jan is for me the biggest challenge'” – your words. Respect you Champ, but the samurai code was not upheld,” Blachowicz wrote on Twitter, prompting Prochazka to explain his line of thinking.
“With Glover, it’s a matter of honour and duty to show pure fight,” he said. “This is more than a challenge.”
Prochazka had also previously expressed his dilemma speaking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, via MMA Fighting.
“I think he can be the next challenger of me,” Prochazka said. “But still, I have to keep respect for Glover. So one other [option] is to offer the Glover rematch, and the second thing is to fight Jan Blachowicz. I have to make a decision in that, but still, yeah, I have to talk with the UFC and my manager as well, what will be the best step.”
Of course, several steps remain before bout agreements are set out — but it certainly seems like Jan Blachowicz will be forced to take the back seat in the UFC light heavyweight title picture, for now at least.
