Błachowicz is expecting their main event bout to feature just about everything. He sees Ankalaev using crisp striking, good wrestling, and high-level techniques against him. Beating a fighter of Ankalaev’s caliber is always a challenge, but that’s what proving you’re the best in the world is all about for Błachowicz.
“Yeah, this is going to be a tough fight. It’s going to be an exciting fight and one that people will remember for a long time,” Błachowicz said. “But I don’t care about all of that. I’m here to be champion and be the best in the world. I just want to beat him. I’ve sacrificed so much for this and I’m going to prove that I’m the best fighter.”
By no means is Błachowicz looking past Ankalaev, but it’s impossible for him not to consider the chance that he may have the opportunity to win the belt at UFC 282 then turn around and defend his title against Teixeira in 2023.
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In October of 2021, Teixeira submitted Błachowicz to become the light heavyweight champion. That loss has been in the back of Błachowicz’s mind since that day in Abu Dhabi and he would love the chance to get that one back.
“This is one thing I would like to do. I want to defend the belt against Glover one more time, but this time I want to prove to myself that I can beat him. I can fight much better than I did in our first fight. This is one image I’d like to make,” Błachowicz said as he cracked a smile. “If you check my rematch record, I’ve never lost.”
