Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz has a firm view on the opposition he should be up against next time out.
Błachowicz has been out of action ever since welcoming Alex Pereira to the division back in July 2023. The pair met in a close and competitive co-headliner at UFC 291, which went the distance and split opinion on who deserved the judges' nod.
It was ultimately "Poatan" who had his hand raised, and he's since grown his star no end at 205 pounds, first by winning the vacant gold at the expense of Jiří Procházka and then by recording consecutive defenses over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 and in a rematch with "BJP" at International Fight Week this year.
All the while, Błachowicz has watched on as the Brazilian's path of destruction in the division continues, with the memory of his narrow and controversial defeat remaining at the forefront.
With that in mind, the Polish powerhouse believes he deserves a second dance with the former kickboxing star upon his return from injury later this year.
But with "Poatan" instead preparing to face the #8-ranked Khalil Rountree in October, Błachowicz does have a couple of other names he's willing to be matched up against...
Błachowicz Targets Procházka, Hill For UFC Title Eliminator
During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Błachowicz looked ahead to his return, which comes after a shoulder injury that required surgery forced him out of a planned rematch with Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 297 this past January.
After reiterating his desire to be the one who unseats Pereira, the 41-year-old pointed to fellow European Procházka and another former champ in Hill as the only other names he will entertain.
For me, what makes sense is Hill or Procházka," Błachowicz said. "I think Jiří is in a dark place right now. I hope that he will come back and we make this fight because I think it will be a very good fight, a very exciting fight. So if not Pereira, I would like to fight against Procházka, somewhere in Europe that will be very big here — in Poland or maybe in Czech Republic. It will be a great event.
Of course, (Hill makes sense too)," Błachowicz continued. "For me, only Pereira, Hill, Procházka. I don't (want) anybody else.
It remains to be seen what lies ahead for the Polish fighter, but it's clear that he's less than pleased with his potential rematch with Pereira being passed over by Rountree's surprise shot.
Believing the champ is being protected, Błachowicz will look to ensure that his claim to a title chance can't be ignored by making an emphatic return later this year.
And when it comes to securing an opportunity to regain the crown, it would appear that he has former opponent Magomed Ankalaev to contend with, depending on how the Russian's next outing goes.