5 potential opponents for Jan Blachowicz following his win this weekend
This past Saturday saw former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz pick up his first win since losing his title, as he stopped Aleksandar Rakic in the third round of an excellent fight.
This weekend’s win has kept Jan Blachowicz firmly in the 205-pound title picture, so with that in mind, who should the promotion match him with next?
Given how close he is to the top of the light heavyweight division, there will be no shortage of prospective opponents for him, so selecting one will be an interesting question, particularly as many of the fighters there are currently booked.
With that in mind, here are five possible opponents for Blachowicz following his victory this weekend.
#5. Jan Blachowicz vs. Ryan Spann
Given that he’s ranked at No.1 in the division right now, technically ahead of the next title challenger, Jiri Prochazka, the logical path for Jan Blachowicz would seemingly be to wait for a title shot in the near future.
However, given that Prochazka doesn’t face Glover Teixeira in their title bout until mid-June, it’s likely that any title fight for Blachowicz would come in early 2023. That means that if he wants to stay active, he’ll need an alternative opponent.
One fighter who could fit the bill in that case is Ryan Spann, who picked up a big victory of his own this weekend by choking out the dangerous Ion Cutelaba in the first round of their clash.
It's @Superman_Spann sinking the submission! #UFCVegas54It's a bird, it's a plane... ✈️
💢 It's @Superman_Spann sinking the submission! #UFCVegas54 https://t.co/8pU9K3OBMN
‘Superman’ is currently ranked at No.13 in the division, but could rise up a couple of spots this week. Even if he doesn’t, though, he’s more than capable of giving Blachowicz a test. Spann is a large 205lber who stands at a rangy 6’5”, and he’s also got finishing skills in all areas.
However, the veteran of Dana White’s Contender Series isn’t the most durable fighter in the division and his aggressive style would probably leave gaps for an experienced fighter like Blachowicz to exploit.
Overall, this would be a highly-exciting bout to watch, but it’d also be one that Blachowicz would be favored to win, making it a potentially attractive fight for him.