Jan Blachowicz is not mincing his words when criticizing the decision makers of his recent bout.
In UFC 291’s co-main event in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Blachowicz suffered a slim split decision defeat to Alex Pereira, the former UFC middleweight champion, in Pereira’s debut MMA fight at 205 pounds. The match was scored 29-28 in Pereira’s favor by judges Derek Cleary and Ron McCarthy, while Junichiro Kamijo was the lone dissenting voice with a 29-28 score for Blachowicz.
Later, Blachowicz took to Instagram to voice his discontent with the outcome, posting, “Group of looters, I was robbed.”
Group of looters, I was robbed. Nonetheless, I appreciate all your support. I will return.
#LegendaryPolishPower
The fight had Blachowicz leaning into his grappling skills early on, pinning Pereira down for much of the initial round until Pereira managed to maintain a standing position for the bulk of the second round. This sequence of events was mirrored in the judges’ scores, with a consensus that Blachowicz took Round 1 and Pereira dominated Round 2.
The third round sparked debate as neither contender was able to establish dominance for any significant duration, with Pereira persistently honing his standup and Blachowicz executing an unremarkable takedown in the match’s final moments.
Blachowicz, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, now stands behind Pereira in the line for contendership. His aspiration was to secure another title shot after drawing against Magomed Ankalaev in a split verdict at UFC 282 for a vacant belt.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Jan Blachowicz UFC 291 Loss
Who won the co-main event of UFC 291?
Alex Pereira won the co-main event of UFC 291, defeating Jan Blachowicz in a split decision.
How did Jan Blachowicz react to his loss in UFC 291?
Jan Blachowicz expressed his displeasure with the decision on his Instagram post, claiming he was robbed and calling the judges a ‘group of looters’.
Who were the judges of the UFC 291 co-main event?
The judges for the co-main event were Derek Cleary, Ron McCarthy, and Junichiro Kamijo. Cleary and McCarthy scored in favor of Pereira, while Kamijo was the dissenting judge favoring Blachowicz.
What did Blachowicz do differently in this fight?
Blachowicz leaned into his grappling skills early in the fight, grounding Pereira for much of the first round.
What is the controversy about the third round of the fight?
The controversy lies in the third round where neither fighter was able to establish clear dominance. Despite Pereira continuing to work his standup, Blachowicz managed an uneventful takedown in the final moments, sparking debate about the judging.
What are the implications of this loss for Blachowicz?
Following this loss, former UFC light heavyweight champion Blachowicz now finds himself behind Pereira in the line for contendership. He had aspired to secure another title shot.
More about Jan Blachowicz UFC 291 Loss
- UFC 291 Results
- Jan Blachowicz’s Instagram Post
- Judging in UFC Explained
- Alex Pereira’s Fight History
- Jan Blachowicz’s Fight History
- Details on UFC Weight Classes
6 comments
Man, this was a tough one. Jan was robbed for sure… Judges need to get their act together!
Jan’s a warrior, no doubt. he’ll bounce back stronger, just watch!
cant believe the judges score, seriously? feels like a total rip-off against blachowicz, needs some serious looking into. smh.
Pereira at 205 lbs is a beast! blachowicz didnt stand a chance. he put up a good fight though. kudos.
Jan’s ground game was on point in the first round! The takedown in the 3rd? Maybe not so much…
nah, Pereira deserved that win. Blachowicz just cant accept it. #TeamPereira