Jan Blachowicz changed into seeking to chop down Aleksandar Rakic with leg kicks, however become subsequently a devastating knee injury that gave the former light heavyweight champion the win in UFC Vegas 54's main event.
From the beginning of the battle, Blachowicz chipped away at Rakic with a collection of nasty kicks to the calf, however as he pressed forward in the third round, the Austrian fighter took a step back and his knee simply buckled. Rakic fell to the floor in glaring pain because the referee rushed in to stop the fight at 1:11 into the third circular.
while it doubtless wasn't the manner he wanted to win, Blachowicz can still rejoice his victory as he vanquishes a further right contender, with hopes that he'll soon get the chance to compete for UFC gold once again.
"this is what I predict," Blachowicz noted afterward. "the primary round, something happened with my eye. however I think the first circular became in fact first rate. He has an injury, it's what it is. S*** happens on occasion. I can not wait to step internal once more. i am hoping the UFC gives me the next title shot."
With an opportunity to make an announcement in the light heavyweight division, both combatants got here out firing early, with Rakic opening a cut below Blachowicz's eye all the way through the primary trade with a right hand straight down the core. Undeterred, Blachowicz came correct returned at him with a left to the physique adopted by means of a big right excessive that snapped Rakic's head lower back.
That's when Blachowicz also begun targeting the lead leg with a sequence of devastating calf kicks, which immediate did hurt as Rakic switched stances to stave off the consistent attacks. The Polish powerhouse used the kicks to then deploy his arms as he began making Rakic pay along with his boxing combos.
With large swelling on his leg, Rakic searched for a takedown off a head kick try to slow Blachowicz down, youngsters he had to fight off a triangle choke attempt from the backside. once he escaped, despite the fact, Rakic all started peppering away with punches from the correct with Blachowicz caught underneath him.
Rakic maintained control, losing down occasional elbows and making Blachowicz protect off his back until the 2d round ended.
With a reset on the feet to start the third, Blachowicz as soon as once again focused the leg and threw with gigantic drive behind each kick. There turned into giant swelling and bruising on the front of Rakic's calf, showing how an awful lot harm Blachowicz inflicted all over the combat.
As Blachowicz stepped into one more aggregate along with his palms, Rakic backed up — and that's when his knee appeared to simply supply out on him.
Replays confirmed what seemed to be his knee popping as Rakic landed on his lower back foot, which led to him falling to the floor in agonizing pain.
Following the battle, Blachowicz shared some words of encouragement with Rakic and promised that he would become a champion at some point.
As for the effect within the fight, Blachowicz receives the win as he appears to jump correct lower back into title contention after falling to Glover Teixeira to lose the belt this past October.
With Teixeira already calling for a rematch in the future, Blachowicz changed into more than chuffed to accept, as he'll now root for the Brazilian to get a win of his own over Jiri Prochazka in the UFC 275 main experience in June.
"Glover, I retain fingers [crossed] for you," Blachowicz referred to. "i hope so we are going to fight once more."
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