In an exclusive MiddleEasy interview, Jan Blachowicz gave quick picks on three very different fights, backing Khamzat Chimaev over Sean Strickland, admitting Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano does not give him “goosebumps,” and praising Ilia Topuria as being on a “different level” than other UFC fighters right now.
Blachowicz is currently recovering from a torn meniscus that forced him out of his UFC 328 rematch with Bogdan Guskov, but the former UFC light heavyweight champion still had plenty to say about the fights around him.
Watch the full exclusive MiddleEasy interview below.
Blachowicz Picks Chimaev Over Strickland
Khamzat Chimaev is listed at 15-0 in MMA and is the current UFC middleweight champion. He is also a three-time Swedish national freestyle wrestling champion, which is the exact area Blachowicz pointed to when discussing his fight with Sean Strickland.
Strickland is listed at 30-7 in MMA and is a former UFC middleweight champion. He has cardio, pressure, durability, and a style that can make clean fights ugly. Blachowicz respected that, but still leaned toward Chimaev.
First, he joked about the atmosphere.
“That’s going to be crazy night over there. They need a lot of security, I think so.”
When asked who he would pick, Blachowicz gave Chimaev the edge.
“I think so that Chimaev will. But you know, Strickland have great cardio. So maybe, you know, if Chimaev, I don’t know, but if I have put my mind, I will put on Chimaev.”
The reason was Chimaev’s wrestling and control.
“Wrestling is like, you know, different level, his control on the ground. But you know, Strickland is also a good fighter, so good cardio, good mental. So it’s going to be, you know, very good fight, but I think Chimaev is going to win.”
Rousey vs Carano Does Not Give Him Goosebumps
Blachowicz sounded far less excited about Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.
Rousey is listed at 12-2 in MMA. She was the UFC’s first women’s bantamweight champion, defended that title six times, and won bronze in judo at the 2008 Olympics. Carano is listed at 7-1 and has not fought since her 2009 loss to Cris Cyborg.
Blachowicz did not trash the matchup, but he also did not pretend it has him counting down the days.
“I don’t know. If I’m going to be at home and I’m going to have some free time, I will watch it, but this is not something when I, you know, wait, like I need to wait and watch this fight.”
He pointed to the long layoffs for both women.
“With all respect to these ladies, but you know, they finished the career a long time ago and now they come back. No goosebumps when I hear about that.”
Asked who wins, Blachowicz refused to force a pick.
“Seriously, I don’t know. I think nobody knows because they don’t fight a long time. Nobody knows how they’re going to look. So we’ll see.”
Blachowicz Says Ilia Topuria Is On A Different Level
Blachowicz did not give a round, method, or full technical breakdown for Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje, but he made his lean pretty obvious.
Topuria is listed at 17-0 in MMA and currently holds the UFC lightweight title. He previously held the UFC featherweight title and became the first Georgian and Spanish fighter to win a UFC championship. Gaethje is listed at 27-5 and is a two-time interim UFC lightweight champion, former BMF titleholder, and former WSOF lightweight champion.
When asked who wins on the UFC White House card, Blachowicz pointed to Topuria’s current level.
“Ilia Topuria is, you know, like he is like the, you know, the best right now in the, in the, one of the best in the UFC right now. He is on the different level than the other guys, in my opinion.”
Blachowicz did not give a method or round, but his pick was clear enough. He sees Topuria ahead of the field right now, even with Gaethje’s pressure, wrestling base, and championship experience on the other side.
