Jan Blachowicz has “no f****** idea” why the UFC booked Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Champion Pereira awaits his next challenger in the main event of UFC 307 on Oct. 5, CEO Dana White announced last week to the surprise of many as Rountree sits at #8 in the rankings, is coming off a suspension and hasn’t won since December. No matter what way you may look at it, Rountree’s next in line for the light heavyweight title.
Blachowicz Baffled By The News
A former champ and foe of Pereira’s, Blachowicz hasn’t fought since losing to ‘Poatan’ at UFC 291 last summer, losing a narrow split decision on the scorecards. Eager to take revenge (as well as his title back) is the #4-ranked Blachowicz especially after seeing a lower-ranked contender be the one to get the title shot.
“No f****** idea,” Blachowicz told Middle Easy, when asked about the Pereira vs. Rountree booking. “I don’t know. You tell me because I’m confused. Why the f***, you know? Why they book [Magomed] Ankalaev with [Aleksandar] Rakic? Why? Why they don’t ask me about this?
“Maybe I would be ready a little bit earlier. Nobody asked me. I just don’t understand. For me, it’s weird and that don’t make any sense for me. I feel like special protection for Pereira. I don’t understand… why?”
Blachowicz reiterated what he said on a recent Tweet: “With all due respect to Khalil but there are at least two higher ranked contenders who are ready to fight Poatan. He doesn’t need special protection…” The two higher-ranked contenders in question are the streaking Magomed Ankalaev as well as himself, he’d explain.
Blachowicz Says UFC Wants To Give Pereira A ‘Nice Win’
Ankalaev hasn’t lost in 12 fights but it’s not a title that’s waiting for him, instead a top contender fight against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. While the fight has title implications written all over it, Russia’s Ankalaev had hoped to finally fight Pereira at that event in particular.
Styles make fights and some have suggested Ankalaev’s wrestling can pose a problem to Pereira just like Blachowicz did in their three-round fight last year only lose a close decision.
“I believe that I won this fight against him, they maybe don’t want to make this fight again because not they know that this time, he’s gonna lose for 100%. Maybe also that’s why they don’t want to give Ankalaev to him because Ankalaev is also very strong. Maybe this is the reason that Khalil is a striker, and maybe they want to make another nice win for him. Easy. Maybe not easy, but another knockout win, something like this… I just don’t understand.
“If they want big name, I think they can make Ankalaev with Pereira right now. I think Ankalaev will be ready also for another UFC in [Abu Dhabi].”
Pereira vs. Rountree All Part Of The Plan?
Blachowicz continued, citing the UFC may have something big going
“I think they know everything, what they want to do. They want to do this and they did. They’ve got [something] special. They’ve got something in their head like, one year into the future, something like this. So, I think they they they already know what they want to do.”
As for what his future holds, Jan Blachowicz says he’d like to make his UFC return in December.
