Jan Blachowicz out of UFC 297; Aleksandar Rakic calls for fight with Jiri Prochazka in his absence

Former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz is headed for shoulder surgery, which will prevent him from competing at his scheduled rematch against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 297 on Jan. 20.

Blachowicz posted that he suffered an injury during training that will not only knock him out of the fight but he’ll have to undergo an operation to repair the damage done.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” Blachowicz wrote on Instagram. “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 five and want to put on a show at the highest possible level. 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 percent 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!”

It’s disappointing news for Blachowicz as he sought to get back in the win column following a razor-close split decision loss to current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira back in July. Now Blachowicz will have to undergo surgery before determining when he can fight again while approaching his 41st birthday in February.

As for Rakic, he wasted no time calling for a new opponent with hopes that former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka would accept his challenge for January.

“You can never lose a rematch when you pull out for the second time. Legendary bulls***,” Rakic said about Blachowicz’s injury. “Let’s see if the samurai has the balls to step up on Jan. 20th.”

Following that callout, Prochazka responded but unfortunately as much as he might want to accept the fight, he knows it won’t be possible to return as early as January.

“I am in, but the earliest time I can be in octagon is February/March,” Prochazka wrote. “Accept?”

It remains to be seen what decision the UFC will make with Rakic still hoping to compete in January, but Prochazka is unavailable for that timeline.

UFC 297 is slated to go down on Jan. 20 in Toronto with middleweight champion Sean Strickland headlining the event in his first title defense against Dricus du Plessis as well as a new women’s bantamweight champion being crowned in a fight pitting Raquel Pennington against Mayra Bueno Silva.