LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 06: Jan Blachowicz of Poland reacts after defeating Luke Rockhold of the United States by TKO in their UFC 239 Light Heavyweight bout at T-Mobile Arena on July 06, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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An unfortunate injury to Aleksandar Rakic gives Jan Blachowicz win in first fight since losing light heavyweight title at UFC Vegas 54.
Jan Blachowicz got his path back to the UFC light heavyweight championship off on the right foot with a victory over Aleksandar Rakic in the main event of UFC Vegas 54.
Unfortunately, while the fight was excellent for the time it lasted, the fight ended with an injury. After Blachowicz hit a low kick, Rakic stepped back and something in his right leg appeared to pop, bringing the fight to a halt.
Jan Blachowicz defeats Aleksandar Rakic when Rakic injures leg mid-fight at UFC Vegas 54
The damage started early for both men in their initial exchanges. Blachowicz worked his combinations and had Rakic eating low kicks, though a couple of jabs from Rakic opened up a cut under Blachowicz’s left eye. Blachowicz clipped Rakic and landed a couple of strikes on the inside before Rakic recovered.
Rakic scored a takedown early in the second, but Blachowicz countered and got a triangle choke in briefly. Once Rakic got out and on top, however, the round was all his. Rakic worked over Blachowicz in a dominant position, including landing a couple of elbows.
The damage from low kicks ended up being too much for Rakic in the third round. After a strong start to the round from Blachowicz, Rakic stepped back and something in his leg appeared to give out, causing him to go down in pain.
This was Blachowicz’s first fight since losing the UFC light heavyweight championship to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267 in October.