UFC Vegas 54: Jan Blachowicz Overcomes Aleksandar Rakic Who Suffers Knee Injury
Jan Blachowicz came out victorious Saturday night, but it didn’t come without injury.
Former light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz, and one of the most promising contenders, Aleksandar Rakic, headlined UFC Vegas 54. Blachowicz won the contest by TKO while Rakic suffered an injury to his right knee in the third round.
Blachowicz tested Rakic’s chin early in the first round, and Rakic showed some massive chin. Blachowicz landed great combinations, mixing body shots and overhands, and was using lots of kicks.
An incredible fight ends with an unfortunate injury from Rakic.
🇵🇱 @JanBlachowicz will take the win tonight. #UFCVegas54 pic.twitter.com/5wQV61avqP
— UFC (@ufc) May 15, 2022
Rakic earned a great takedown in the second round but almost lost the fight when he was stuck in a Polish fighter’s triangle for a few seconds.
Rakic survived that triangle and landed great punches on the ground.
In the third round, Rakic felt down because of a knee injury.
Blachowicz earned a TKO victory and defended his No. 1 spot in the rankings.
Rakic tweeted after the fight that he had injury three weeks before the fight.
“A great battle took place in the octagon tonight but unfortunately it ended not the way Jan and I or the fans wanted,” Rakic wrote.
“The same damn injury from 3 weeks ago in camp showed up again tonight. I felt I won both rounds, round one being close but round two was just mine then I opened up really good even in the third before my knee buckled. Knowing the fact that my cardio was off the chart ( with a heart beat at 36 in sleep ) I would start to picking him apart from third round on but it is what it is.
“Congratulation to Jan and I wish him the best. I will take care of this injury and come back like you never seen me before. This is a unfinished fight between Jan and I and I really hope [the UFC] gives me a REMATCH.”
Blachowicz suffered a cut near the tear duct of his eye and will have surgery on Monday.
In the co-main event, Ryan Spann earned another great submission victory. Against Ion Cutelaba.
It was very important for both fighters to earn victory since they suffered several losses in their latest bouts, but Spann was the one who locked the guillotine on standing and finished it on the ground.
Michael Johnson finally got back into the winning column.
His last win was in 2018 against Artem Lebov, and his last KO victory was in 2016 against former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier.
Check out the rest of the results below:
- Jan Błachowicz def Aleksandar Rakić KO/TKO, 1:11 R3
- Ryan Spann def Ion Cutelaba Sub, 2:22 R1
- Davey Grant def Louis Smolka KO/TKO, 0:49 R3
- Katlyn Chookagian def Amanda Ribas Split Dec
- Manuel Torres def Frank Camacho KO/TKO, 3:27 R1
- Allan Nascimento def Jake Hadley Unanimous Dec
- Viviane Araujo def Andrea Lee Unanimous Dec
- Michael Johnson def Alan Patrick KO/TKO, 3:22 R2
- Virna Jandiroba def Angela Hill Unanimous Dec
- Tatsuro Taira def Carlos Candelario Unanimous Dec
- Andre Petroski def Nick Maximov Sub, 1:16 R1