When it comes to career turnarounds, there is possibly no better example in MMA history than Jan Błachowicz. After a difficult start to his UFC tenure (2-4), the Pole embarked on a reign of domination at light heavyweight (9-1), eventually becoming the unlikeliest of champions.
While his time at the top would bring him the highest of highs, he also wasn’t able to stay on the throne for very long. And since dropping the strap, he hasn’t been able to replicate the same level of consistency that brought him to the forefront of the sport at 205-lb.
From Civil Engineer Degree to Security Guard
Having completed a degree in civil engineering at a university in Poland, Blachowicz is highly educated. If one was looking to hire someone to write an essay on the UFC roster, he’d be a top choice. In fact, he has always said that when he does decide to step away, that he would put his civil engineering degree to good use.
After completing his degree, instead of jumping into a career in civil engineering, he took a job as a security guard at a night club. We suppose that club had very little trouble while he was on shift.
All the while, Blachowicz had been studying martial arts since was 15. His focus was mostly muay Thai, grappling, and jiu-jitsu. It wasn’t long until the MMA bug got to him and he would make his professional debut in 2007 at 24 years of age.
From KSW to UFC
Coming into the biggest mixed martial arts promotion in the world from the most venerable European-based fighting organization Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW), Błachowicz had a lot to prove. After notching two title defenses as the company’s light heavyweight champion, he set his sights on even grander prizes by signing with the UFC in 2014, making his debut against Ilir Latifi.
Starching the Swede in almost two minutes, Błachowicz looked to be a hot prospect in the making—or at least he seemed to be. Following this spectacular first bout, he wound up going 1-4 in his next five fights, suffering defeats to Jimi Manuwa, Corey Anderson, Alexander Gustafsson and Patrick Cummins.
Now on the verge of receiving his walking papers, Błachowicz needed to make a considerable comeback if he wanted to remain in the UFC. Which is exactly what the Pole accomplished, going nearly undefeated over the next three years in eight contests, including winning a title eliminator opposite Anderson in a rematch by second round knockout.
Jan Blachowicz: Road to Becoming a UFC Champion
In the wake of then 205-lb apex Jon Jones relinquishing of his strap in a bid to move to heavyweight, Jan Błachowicz found himself competing in his first UFC championship fight opposite former title challenger Dominick Reyes at UFC 253 in 2020.
Although he was the underdog going into the event, the European logged an incredible performance versus his American adversary, continually pelting Reyes with a bevy of hard body kicks. Finding his mark late into the second round, Błachowicz nailed his opponent with a monstrous straight that put him on the canvas in a bloody mess. Smelling blood in the water, he swarmed on the fallen Reyes with ground-and-pound until the fight was called off, becoming the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
For his first title defense, Błachowicz was set to battle undefeated middleweight title holder Israel Adesanya at UFC 259 in 2021. By this point in his career, Adesanya was one of the pound-for-pound best athletes on the roster, having retained his own strap twice by the time he locked horns with Błachowicz.
Though he was counted out by a majority of the MMA community once again, the Pole cemented his spot at the head of the light heavyweight class by dominating “The Last Stylebender.” Using his superior size, Błachowicz outworked Adesanya on the feet and neutralized his counter striking by dragging him to ground keeping him on his back, earning the unanimous decision victory.
Handing Adesanya his first ever setback, Błachowicz then attempted to record a second defense later that year against Glover Teixeira at UFC 267. Unlike his past Octagon appearances, however, it was the European who was being put on the backfoot after being controlled by the Brazilian for the majority of round one.
The second played out slightly better for Błachowicz, who managed to land a few solid blows on the challenger. Sadly, after allowing Teixeira to take a hold of his back and flatten him out, the champion could do nothing as the perennial contender sunk in the rear naked choke, forcing Błachowicz to tap.
Post-championship Career, Climb Back to the Top
After 398 days, Błachowicz’s remarkable time as the 205-lb standard had come to a disappointing end. While he was nearing 40-years old, the Pole was still regarded as one of the top names in the division.
Looking to get back on track toward the championship, he collided with Austrian native Aleksandar Rakić at UFC on ESPN 36 in 2022. In a highly-competitive match, both men fought tooth-and-nail for their possible title opportunity, with Rakić especially doing considerable damage by busting up Błachowicz’s nose. Unfortunately, tragedy struck the fight when Rakić suffered a horrific knee injury that immediately ended the contest, with Błachowicz being declared the winner by TKO.
Seven months later, he would earn his long-awaited second chance at the light heavyweight throne at UFC 282, where he squared off with the streaking Magomed Ankalaev for the vacant 205-lb strap. Not having lost in almost five years, and being almost ten years younger, Ankalaev was pegged to make easy work of Błachowicz.
Demonstrating, again, why he thrives as the underdog, the former champion picked the Russian apart on the feet, pelting Ankalaev’s legs with kicks while making him visibly grimace in pain. However, in the championship rounds, the Dagestani used his elite-level wrestling to tire out Błachowicz, earning a large amount of control time in the process.
Looking to have won the belt off the back of a masterful grappling performance, the fighters, and also fans around the world, were perplexed to hear that the contest was ruled a majority draw, meaning the belt would remain unclaimed.
Blachowicz Since Alex Pereira Fight
Letting the gold slip through his fingers by the thinnest of margins, Jan Błachowicz returned to action in 2023 in another title eliminator scrap at UFC 291, combating former middleweight king Alex Pereira, who was making his light heavyweight debut. Choosing to not exchange with the previous two-division Glory Kickboxing champion, the Pole swiftly tried to take Pereira to the mat, keeping his hands on him for most of the first round.
As the bout continued, though, Błachowicz noticeably started to fatigue, while the Brazilian remained fresh and started to find his rhythm. By the time the match was over, both competitors had fought a close fight, which was reflected on the score cards, as it was Pereira who came out on top by split decision.
In the almost two years since this event, Błachowicz has not fought due to persistent shoulder injuries, but is slated to make his return to action at UFC Fight Night 255 this March opposite Carlos Ulberg. By the time he steps into the cage, he will be 42-years old, an age where most fighters have already hung up their gloves.
It is unknown at this time if the Pole can make another career resurgence toward the light heavyweight title, considering his age and the wear-and-tear on his body. Should he make it past Ulberg, Jan Błachowicz will undoubtedly earn a third chance at the 205-lb throne, and if he somehow dethrones whoever occupies that seat, then his legacy as an all-time great would be emphatically sealed.