Still Crazy is the spirit Jan Błachowicz embraced when he announced that he had signed a new UFC contract. The Polish light heavyweight posted an image of himself signing the agreement with a wooden dip pen and inkwell, pairing it with a caption that described another chapter with the promotion and answered his own question about whether he was crazy with an emphatic yes. For Błachowicz, however, the decision is not presented as a nostalgic gesture or a reluctant extension. He said he still loves competing and would continue as long as both his body and mind remain in good condition.
The new deal arrives with Błachowicz still positioned inside the UFC light heavyweight top 15. UFC.com described him as the second-oldest fighter on the roster, 13 days younger than fellow 43-year-old Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. That standing matters because Błachowicz is not simply holding onto a place in the sport after a long career. He is preparing for another meaningful divisional assignment in Belgrade while openly saying he wants the feeling of a victory again. His message is direct: the competitive fire remains, but he does not want the urgency of seeking a win to become pressure that works against him.
Why Błachowicz is continuing
Błachowicz said he could retire immediately if he chose, but questioned what would come next and explained that he would miss fighting. His answer frames the contract as a commitment rooted in enjoyment rather than obligation. He has been slowed by injuries in recent years, according to UFC.com, yet he remains willing to measure himself against the division’s leading names. The source noted a four-fight run without a victory that included draws with Magomed Ankalaev and Bogdan Guskov, alongside decision losses to Alex Pereira and Carlos Ulberg.
That sequence supplies important context for Błachowicz’s push to stay active. UFC.com said three of those four opponents had sat atop the division and characterized his fights with Pereira and Ulberg as closer than anyone else in the division had taken them to that point in their respective careers. It does not erase his desire to return to winning form, but it explains why his top-15 status and continued ambition are central to this week’s story. Błachowicz is pursuing a fresh result while carrying the perspective of a fighter who says experience remains one of his strongest tools.
Belgrade change creates a new test
Błachowicz was originally set to rematch Guskov after their majority draw at UFC 323 in Las Vegas last December. That plan changed when Guskov took a headlining assignment against Ankalaev in Abu Dhabi after Khalil Rountree Jr. was forced out. Błachowicz said the UFC called him first about the opening, but he declined because he mistakenly believed he would have only one week to make weight. He later realized there were two weeks available, but by then the Guskov contract had been signed. With Guskov moved, Navajo Stirling stepped forward for the Belgrade fight. Błachowicz called Stirling a young, hungry fighter and said the matchup required only small adjustments because Stirling prefers to fight standing. He identified the unbeaten Stirling as young, strong and a good kickboxer, while stressing that he has faced similar styles and must use his experience.
- Błachowicz’s stated condition for continuing is that both his body and mind remain okay; he says he will stop when his body tells him to stop.
- His immediate goal is a return to the win column, but he said he does not want to place so much pressure on himself that it hurts his performance.
| Confirmed point | Source-supported detail |
|---|---|
| New UFC chapter | Błachowicz posted that he had signed another new UFC contract. |
| Belgrade opponent change | Guskov moved to face Ankalaev, and Stirling raised his hand to face Błachowicz. |
| Stirling’s momentum | UFC.com credited Stirling with consecutive second-round stoppage wins over Bruno Lopes and Ion Cutelaba in 2026. |
Still Crazy is more than a playful line from Błachowicz’s contract announcement. It captures the outlook of a veteran who remains in the top 15, believes he still has more to give and is prepared to test himself again in Belgrade. He enters the weekend wanting a decisive win, even joking that he would prefer no judges, but his own explanation also shows restraint. Błachowicz wants the result badly; he simply knows he must not let that need outweigh the patient approach required once the fight begins.
Sources: UFC.com
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