Jan Blachowicz faces Aleksandar Rakic in a critical light heavyweight bout at UFC Fight Night on May 14 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. This title eliminator features former champion Blachowicz (28-9) looking to rebound from his title loss, while #3 ranked contender Rakic (14-2) aims to earn his first UFC title shot.

Fight Background:

• Blachowicz previously held the title after beating Dom Reyes and defended it against Israel Adesanya
• Rakic enters on a two-fight win streak with decisions over Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos
• Winner likely faces the victor of Teixeira vs. Prochazka for the title

Technical Breakdown:

• Rakic holds size advantage and superior takedown defense
• Both fighters employ aggressive rushing attacks but with different purposes
• Blachowicz tends to clinch against the cage
• Rakic favors ending combinations with head kicks
• Blachowicz's habit of leaning back to evade could leave him vulnerable to head kicks

Fight Analysis:

• Blachowicz will likely attempt early pressure and look for takedowns
• Rakic's strong takedown defense and counter-striking pose problems
• Rakic's size, youth and dangerous striking make him the slight betting favorite
• Blachowicz's backward movement matches poorly with Rakic's kicking arsenal

The oddsmakers have installed Rakic as a slight favorite, which aligns with the stylistic matchup. Rakic's superior size, takedown defense, and dangerous striking present significant challenges for the former champion Blachowicz as he attempts to work his way back to title contention.

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