Blachowicz rips Pereira for Adesanya callout: 'We have unfinished business'

Jan Blachowicz believes it was wrong for newly crowned UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira to call out a middleweight in Israel Adesanya at UFC 295.

Blachowicz, the former light heavyweight champ, tore into Pereira in a series of tweets Sunday, calling him "slimy" and saying they have "unfinished business." Pereira made his 205-pound debut against Blachowicz at UFC 291 in July and won by split decision.

After knocking out Jiri Prochazka to capture the vacant light heavyweight title in Saturday's main event, Pereira invited Adesanya, the former two-time middleweight titleholder, to move up and challenge him for the 205-pound belt.

Pereira and Adesanya have fought twice in the UFC already - and twice previously in kickboxing - which is why Blachowicz has an issue with the potential matchup.

Pereira finished Adesanya via TKO in November 2022 to win the 185-pound championship, and then Adesanya scored a knockout win in a rematch in April to regain the middleweight throne. Adesanya has since lost the title again, against Sean Strickland in September.

Though Blachowicz wants another crack at Pereira, that won't be next for him. The Pole is scheduled to face Aleksandar Rakic in a rematch at UFC 297 on Jan. 20. Plus, UFC CEO Dana White said Saturday that former champion Jamahal Hill, who relinquished the title in July due to injury, is next in line to face Pereira.