The upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship card in Canada
has taken a huge hit.
According to his
UFC 297 opponent Aleksandar
Rakic (14-3) on social
media this Thursday, Jan
Blachowicz (29-10-1) has been forced out of their light
heavyweight matchup. The two were expecting to face off on Jan. 20
at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Blachowicz expressed his
disappointment about the surgery-requiring shoulder injury he
sustained in a post on Instagram, while
Rakic was quick to call out another opponent in hopes of staying on
the lineup next month.
Advertisement
“It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” a crestfallen Blachowicz
wrote. “It’s
hard to express how I feel because it’s a mixture of anger and
sadness. Withdrawing from a fight due to injury is one of the most
difficult decisions a fighter can make. However, sometimes there is
no other option, especially when you are competing in the TOP 5 and
want to put on a show at the highest level.”
The Polish fighter continued, “Instead of fighting for the best
shape, I fight with the pain during every training session. I did
everything I could, but my shoulders need surgery. In this state,
continuing preparations and entering the Octagon would be
irresponsible and stupid. I always say that when I go into a fight,
I must be 100% ready. I owe it to myself, my coaches, my opponent,
and above all, the fans. Thank you in advance for your support! I
am waiting for the date of surgery, after which rehabilitation and
return to training will follow. I promise I will come back
stronger!”
When calling out Blachowicz for pulling out of the fight, Rakic
also pointed at one specific foe to fill in against him: Jiri
Prochazka. The former champ responded
almost immediately, expressing his interesting with the caveat that
he would not be able to compete until February or March. The
excited contender from Austria replied to Prochazka’s message,
asking the UFC for a slot on UFC 298 on Feb. 17 in Anaheim,
California.
It is currently unclear if the promotion will try to find a
suitable replacement to keep Rakic on UFC 297, if the UFC will
oblige the fighter back-and-forth on social media, or if it will go
a different direction entirely. As it stands, UFC 297 on Jan. 20
will remain at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, with Sean
Strickland vs. Dricus Du
Plessis for the middleweight championship headliner. The
co-main attraction will also be for a belt, as Raquel
Pennington and Mayra
Bueno Silva vie for the vacant 135-pound strap. Other main card
bouts that remain on the lineup include Neil Magny
vs. Mike
Malott at welterweight, and a featherweight clash pitting
Arnold
Allen against Movsar
Evloev.