Jan Blachowicz hopes future title fight with Jiri Prochazka happens in Europe

Jan Blachowicz
Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC & Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

Ahead of his UFC 267 headliner tomorrow night on ‘Fight Island’ — reigning light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz could not contain his excitement regarding a potential all-European title bout against the surging division contender, Jiri Prochazka — claiming the pairing should take place in Europe as well.

In the midst of a stunning five-fight undefeated run, reigning light heavyweight kingpin, Blachowicz is slated to attempt the second defense of his 205lbs crown opposite the similarly streaking, Glover Teixeira — with the #1 ranked contender enjoying a certain career purple patch.

Amongst his streak of victories, Blachowicz managed a splendid annum last year, avenging a loss to recent Bellator light heavyweight Grand Prix finalist entry, Corey Anderson with a headlining knockout before scooping the vacant light heavyweight crown on ‘Fight Island’ in September of last year with a brutal second round knockout win over Dominick Reyes.

In March at UFC 259 as part of a championship tripleheader, Blachowicz prevented middleweight best, Israel Adesanya from becoming a two-weight champion held simultaneously via an impressive unanimous decision victory to land his first successful title knockback. Blachowicz also became the first to hand City Kickboxing mainstay, Adesanya a loss in his professional mixed martial arts career.

Whilst Blachowicz and Teixeira share the Octagon tomorrow night following their respective successful trips to the scales this morning at the official weigh-ins, the surging #2 ranked, Prochazka successfully made championship weight to serve as a backup to the headliner.

Successfully landing in the promotion with a pair of eye-catching second round knockouts, the former Rizin FF light heavyweight champion has certainly grabbed the attention of his European counterpart, Blachowicz.

Great run for him [Jiri Prochazka],” Blachowicz told MMA Fighting. “He’s a crazy fighter but in a good way. Crazy, weird style but he knows how to use it. I believe I will fight against Glover [Teixeira] and then maybe in the future with Jiri [Prochazka], but somewhere in Europe.

If I have to fight Jiri, we have to do it in Poland or somewhere in Europe, because all of Europe would like to come and see this fight live,” Blachowicz explained. “First of all, I have to beat Glover. The focus is on him. I hope so nothing will change cause when I beat Glover, maybe my next opponent will be Jiri, but this fight has to not be in Abu Dhabi, not in USA — in Europe. If this fight will happen, I hope it will be in Poland in the national stadium — 60,000 people will come to watch this fight.

Blitzing through his opening two opponents since his transition to the UFC last year, Czech Republic finisher, Prochazka stopped one-time title challengers, Volkan Oezdemir back in July of last year — before handing common-foe, Reyes a massive, spinning back-elbow knockout in a headlining slot in May.