MMA Preview – Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira at UFC 291
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JAN BLACHOWICZ VS ALEX PEREIRA FACTS
When is UFC 291? Sunday 30th July, 2023 - 00:00 (UK)
Where is UFC 291? Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 291? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 291
What channel is UFC 291 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 291? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
JAN BLACHOWICZ VS ALEX PEREIRA LOWDOWN
Jan Blachowicz (29-9-1) gleefully welcomes the former middleweight champion up to 205. He knows an impressive display will put him in line to reclaim his own gold after Pereira’s teammate Glover Teixeira (2021) snatched it back at UFC 267. He got straight back in the win column against Aleksandar Rakic (2022) although it was thanks to an unfortunate knee injury. Nonetheless, it granted him a shot at the vacant title against Magomed Ankalaev (2022). It was an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance from both fighters which ended in a draw. Now, Blachowicz knows he has some making up to do.
There is nothing lacklustre about Alex Pereira (7-2) who’s kickboxing dynamite has ignited the octagon. He only needed three UFC fights to earn a shot at his old foe Israel Adesanya (2022) and pulled off the knockout in the fifth round. They met again five months later in April with Adesanya avenging his loss with an even more impressive second-round knockout. That loss made it an easy decision to move up to the light heavyweight division.
JAN BLACHOWICZ VS ALEX PEREIRA PREDICTION
This is a mouthwatering co-main event. Pereira moves up 20 lbs but will still be a monster in the division and will hold a slight height and reach advantage here. He will be a different beast with less weight to cut and the only worry for him is his grappling.
We all know how good a striker Blachowicz is, but he is likely to dig out the blueprint he used against Adesanya where he eventually took him down to remove the striking threat. His jiu-jitsu is superb and his wrestling is decent – good enough to take Pereira down and keep him there.
The Brazilian’s takedown defence is improving working with Glover Teixeira who is the perfect training partner for Blachowicz. If he can keep the fight on the feet, he has the speed and power to get the knockout. We can see his left hook in particular landing and it only needs one connection to turn the lights off.
You also have to consider Pereira got put out cold less than four months ago and Blachowicz is arguably the hardest hitter he has faced. Blachowicz can find the knockout although a submission is more likely after grinding him down.
He has more avenues to victory and he should be the favourite, but he is slowing down. This move up to light heavyweight could bring out the best in Pereira which is scary and we feel that left hook could upset the odds makers.
Prediction: Pereira via KO/TKO
Value bet: Pereira via KO/TKO
