LONDON – Jan Blachowicz plans on reminding everyone of his legendary Polish power at UFC Fight Night 255. Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) meets rising contender Carlos Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at The O2 (ESPN+). Ulberg is a staple at the City Kickboxing gym in New Zealand, and has finished five of his past six opponents.
However, former champion Blachowicz says there’s nothing he hasn’t seen in the octagon. “He’s a kickboxer, very good kickboxer,” Blachowicz told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC Fight Night 255 media day. “Good left hand, very fast, good movement on the feet, but I’ve got very big experience, and I feel everything inside the octagon.”
Blachowicz, who has his sights on a potential rematch with either UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev or former champ Alex Pereira, said he’s ready to show that he still belongs among the elite fighters. “In my head, visualization training is third-round KO,” Blachowicz said, expressing his confidence in his striking ability. “I see keys in standup, also in wrestling, also in jiu-jitsu.”
The fight is particularly significant for Blachowicz, who at 42 years old is coming off a layoff but feels motivated and ready for the challenge. “I just have to find a hole in the fight and use it,” he noted. “With all respect to him, he’s a good kickboxer, good fighter, but I think I’m better in every part of the fight.”
Meanwhile, Nathaniel Wood also sees opportunities to move up the ranks as he prepares for his matchup against Morgan Charriere (20-10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in a main card bout. Wood (20-6 MMA, 8-3 UFC) is eager to show off his skills on March 22, 2025, at The O2 Arena in London. He noted similarities in their wrestling and striking backgrounds, emphasizing the path they both took to the UFC.
“I don’t have a bad word to say about him,” Wood told reporters, highlighting the respect he has for Charriere. “We’ve got each other on Instagram. I like the guy. I feel like he’s very similar to me where if you look at him, I’d say he’s a striker. But he’s also got very violent grappling.”
Wood, who has transitioned to featherweight and is 4-1 in his last five fights, expressed his confidence in his speed as a crucial factor in the matchup. “Definitely in the speed, if we’re going off physical attributes,” Wood stated, acknowledging that moving up in weight might make him a little less strong compared to the competition. Nonetheless, he believes his quickness will give him the upper hand.
“The way I look at it is, at bantamweight, I was always the same as everyone else because we all cut the same amount of weight. Now, going up a weight, I’m at a disadvantage in the strength. But I’m at an advantage in the speed,” Wood explained. With his mindset described as “bulletproof,” he feels ready for this critical fight in London.
As both fighters gear up for their respective bouts, excitement is building for UFC Fight Night 255. With a card stacked with promising matchups, fans are eagerly awaiting the outcomes that could reshape the featherweight and light heavyweight landscapes.
