If you’re a Jan Blachowicz fan and believe that he may be the only fighter in his weight class who has a chance to dethrone Alex Pereira, you got some good news on Tuesday.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion, who has been out of action since he lost a split decision to Pereira in July 2023, is back. On Tuesday, the UFC announced Blachowicz’s return date, event, and opponent.
The No. 4-ranked Blachowicz will battle No. 7 Carlos Ulberg in a crucial light heavyweight bout that could determine the next challenger for the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC London on March 22.
The UFC also announced an important heavyweight scrap featuring No. 8 Marcin Tybura and No. 14 Mick Parkin.
The UFC Light Heavyweight Title Picture
No. 1 contender Magomed Ankalaev is expected to face Pereira sometime in the first quarter of 2025. March 8 at UFC 313 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas seems like a possible landing spot for that fight.
If that’s the case, Pereira-Ankalaev would take place two weeks before Blachowicz-Ulberg, putting the winners on the same timeline—barring significant injuries.
The No. 2 and 3 fighters in the light heavyweight division will meet at UFC 311 in January when Jiří Procházka faces Jamahal Hill. If Procházka beats Hill, he’ll likely hope for Ankalaev to win.
Procházka has already lost to Pereira twice, and the UFC isn’t likely to book that fight for a third time. Hill has lost to Pereira as well, but only once. The real-life heat Hill has with Pereira might also help his case for a rematch.
If Ankalaev wins, everything opens up in the division, barring Pereira getting a rematch. However, there are some who believe Pereira might move up to heavyweight if he takes a loss at light heavyweight.
In the event Pereira beats Ankalaev, the winner of Blachowicz-Ulberg would have the best case for a title shot of anyone in the division. Blachowicz nearly beat Pereira a year ago. If he beats Ulberg, it would only make him seem more suitable for another shot.
If Ulberg wins, he validates himself as the next fresh face possibly ready to knock off Poatan.
In any case, UFC London, which is also rumored to mark the return of Leon Edwards, is shaping up to be an excellent fight card.
Confirmed Fights for UFC London
- Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin – Heavyweight (265 lbs)
- Jan Błachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg – Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)
- Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar – Strawweight (115 lbs)
- Andrey Pulyaev vs. Christian Leroy Duncan – Middleweight (185 lbs)
What’s Next For the UFC? UFC Tampa
Am I the only one who is a little sad that Saturday will mark the last UFC event of 2024? The break will only last three weeks, but those three weekends will fell like an offseason to hardcore MMA fans.
Here is a look at the entire UFC Tampa card.
- Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley (Welterweight)
- Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo (Featherweight)
- Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva (Flyweight)
- Dustin Jacoby vs. Vitor Petrino (Light Heavyweight)
- Daniel Marcos vs. Adrian Yanez (Bantamweight)
- Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos (Light Heavyweight)
- Michael Johnson vs. Ottman Azaitar (Lightweight)
- Drakkar Klose vs. Joel Alvarez (Lightweight)
- Sean Woodson vs. Fernando Padilla (Featherweight)
- Miles Johns vs. Felipe Lima (Featherweight)
- Miranda Maverick vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth (Flyweight)
- Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras (Bantamweight)
- Piera Rodriguez vs. Joseline Knutsson (Strawweight)
