Robert Whittaker wants top opponent for next light heavyweight fight, Jan Blachowicz volunteers

Robert Whittaker is targeting a top-tier opponent for his next light heavyweight appearance. Following Whittaker's public search for a ranked adversary, Jan Blachowicz has officially volunteered to face the former champion. This matchup would pit two former titleholders against one another in a move that signals Blachowicz is not pursuing retirement, despite fan speculation.

MMA Fighting, Yahoo Sports, and Sherdog note that the prospective bout emerged after Whittaker publicly discussed potential matchups including Magomed Ankalaev and a rematch with Paulo Costa. While Whittaker has expressed interest in fighting top-level competition, coverage from Bloody Elbow identifies the interaction as a clear callout from Blachowicz directed specifically at Whittaker. Whether the UFC will facilitate this pairing is not yet confirmed.

Official status remains pending, and coverage does not yet specify if the organization has received or accepted a formal proposal for the fight. Potential complications regarding teammate matchups were mentioned by Whittaker during his broader discussion of potential opponents, though the specifics of how this might influence current negotiations are not yet established.