UFC-Gdansk winner Jan Blachowicz wants 'Shogun' after snapping skid with flashy choke

GDANSK, Poland – The MMA community couldn’t stop geeking out over the standing bulldog choke that secured Jan Blachowicz’s win over Devin Clark at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 118.

Blachowicz (20-7 MMA, 3-4 UFC) was certainly happy to walk away with the finish over Clark (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) – and snap a two-fight losing skid in the process. But as far as the rare submission goes, don’t expect elaborate breakdowns from the light heavyweight, who couldn’t even tell whether he’d pulled it off before or not.

“Really, I don’t remember,” Blachowicz told reporters after the main card scrap, which streamed live on UFC Fight Pass from Ergo Arena in Gdansk, Poland. “Maybe a long time ago but in training. Never in the fight. …

“He just made a mistake. I used it perfectly, and I finished the fight.”

The submission would go on to earn “Performance of the Night” honors.

Considering a third loss in a skid is something few UFC fighters can afford, walking into Saturday’s bout meant some added weight on Blachowicz ‘s shoulders. But only to a point, he says.

“When I stepped onto the cage, the pressure was gone,” Blachowicz said. “And I just enjoyed the fight.”

The Polish fighter also got to enjoy another bonus: the “amazing” feeling that came with getting some love from the crowd. As for those who aren’t as loving – his critics, that is – Blachowicz has a pretty straightforward message.

“I feel sorry for them,” Blachowicz said.

In any case, with the skid in the past, Blachowicz can now focus on his future. And while he points out it’s mostly out of his hands, he wouldn’t mind having a stab at a former UFC champion.

“This is not my decision, but I would like a fight against ‘Shogun’ (Mauricio Rua),” Blachowicz said.

To hear from Blachowicz, check out the video above.

And for complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 118, check out the UFC Events section of the site.