Report: UFC's Aleksandar Rakic suffered torn ACL in main event loss

Aleksandar Rakic suffered a torn ACL in his right knee Saturday during a loss to Jan Blachowicz and will need surgery to repair the injury, an MRI revealed, according to reporter Ariel Helwani.

Rakic, 30, is the UFC's third ranked light heavyweight contender and was tied 19-19 with Blachowicz after two rounds on all three judges scorecards when he suffered the injury. While Blachowicz landed 14 kicks to Rakic's legs in the fight, the injury happened without contact. After Rakic buckled and fell, the fight was ended and Blachowicz was declared winner by technical knockout.

The injury is not a new experience for Rakic, who has twice suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, according to Helwani.

Rakic has fought just three times since the beginning of 2020. The loss Saturday dropped his career record to 14-3 after he beat Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith in his two previous fights. On Instagram, Rakic said he deserves a rematch with Blachowicz and said the two have "unfinished business."

Blachowicz is the No. 1 ranked contender in the division after his reign as champion ended in October 2021 with a loss to Glover Teixeira.