A. Rakic after knee injury in UFC Las Vegas 54. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
In the main fight UFC Las Vegas 54, held this Saturday (14), Jan Blachowicz rediscovered the path to triumphs, but with the right to anticlimax. Opponent of Aleksandar rakic, the Pole was scared, but received a positive result after an apparent injury to his rival's knee, which prevented the Austrian from continuing in the third round. With the referee interrupting, the former champion was declared the winner by technical knockout.
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With the victory, Blachowicz recovered from the defeat he suffered against Glover Teixeira in 2021, which resulted in the loss of the light heavyweight title (up to 93kg.). Now, the Pole is once again dreaming of a new opportunity to fight for the belt.
Defeated in UFC Las Vegas 54, Aleksandar was putting up a convincing fight until the moment of the apparent injury. Unable to continue in the clash, the Austrian had a run of two victories ended and is momentarily away from the dreamed clash for the throne of the division.
In an interview still in the octagon, Blachowicz regretted what happened to his opponent. Jan, however, did not fail to celebrate the positive result.
The fight
The confrontation began with Blachowicz taking the initiative with a low kick. Rakic responded in kind. The duel was tense, with the fighters throwing powerful blows in the center of the octagon. After little time for the confrontation, Jan was already bleeding near his left eye. The Pole, however, was not intimidated and attacked with combinations of jabs, straight shots and low kicks. Halfway through the round, Aleksandar attempted a takedown, but Blachowicz defended well. In the final seconds, the athletes exchanged kicks, but there was no more time.
In the second round, the athletes resumed attacking the legs. Still in the first minute, Rakic took advantage of an oversight by the Pole and took the confrontation to the ground. From below, Blachowicz tried a triangle, but Aleksandar defended well and went for the ground and pound. Jan tried to stop the confrontation and prevent his opponent's attacks, while Rakic launched attacks from top to bottom. In the final minute, Blachowicz managed to get close to the bars and tried to stand, but Aleksandar didn't give him space. The stage ended with Rakic putting pressure on his opponent, but without force.
The third stage began with Rakic taking the initiative, with two jabs. Blachowicz responded with a low kick. Afterwards, the Pole received a clean right to the face, but responded in kind. At the beginning of the round, Rakic suffered a possible knee injury and collapsed. Noticing the Austrian's condition, the referee stopped the fight.
'Blachowicz vs. Rakic' Stats
UFC Las Vegas 54 results
MAIN CARD
Light Heavyweight: Jan Blachowicz derrotou Aleksandar rakic by technical knockout (knee injury) at 1m11s of R3
Light Heavyweight: Ryan spann finished Ion cutelaba with a guillotine 2m22s from R1
Bantamweight: davey grant derrotou Louis Smolka by knockout 49s into R3
Fly weight: Katlyn chookagian derrotou Amanda ribas in the judges' split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Lightweight: Manuel Torres defeated Frank Camacho by TKO at 3:27 of R1
Fly weight: Allan Puro Osso derrotou Jake Hadley in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Fly weight: Viviane Araujo derrotou Andrea Lee in the unanimous decision of the judges (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)
Lightweight: Michael Johnson derrotou Alan Nuguette by knockout at 3m22s of R2
Straw weight: Virna jandiroba derrotou Angela Hill in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Fly weight: Tatsuro Taira defeated Carlos Candelario via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-27)
Average weight: Andre Petroski submitted Nick Maximov with a hand triangle at 1m57s of R1
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