UFC 259: Jan Blachowicz takes decision win against Israel Adesanya for light-heavyweight gold

Brendan Bradford

UFC 259: Jan Blachowicz takes decision win against Israel Adesanya for light-heavyweight gold image

Jan Blachowicz has fended off Israel Adesanya's bold challenge to his light heavyweight title, defending the 205-pound strap with a gritty decision win at UFC 259 in Las Vegas. 

In a highly technical bout, Blachowicz scored two takedowns in the fourth and fifth rounds to edge out a decision with scores of 49-46 49-45 and 49-45. 

It's the first defence of his belt since a shock second round TKO win over Dominick Reyes last September. 

"I thought he would be a little bit faster," Blachowicz said. 

"He hit harder than I thought. I thought he wouldn't hit as hard and would be faster, but it hit harder and wasn't as fast.

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"I knew if I took him down, I'm bigger and stronger and I'd be better. I just had to wait for my moment." 

Adesanya didn't make any excuses, and said it was fatifue more than the size difference that made the biggest impact in the outcome of the fight. 

"Didn't go exactly the way I wanted it to go. Dare to be great," Adesanya said afterwards. 

"That was just my legs being fatigued. I don't know what from, I'll have to watch the tape. 

"I knew what to do and I was trying to do it. The size did play a factor, but my technique would have been a lot finer. He made me look like I had a butter-guard. 

"It's like a bad day in the gym, but it's in the office tonight." 

Adesanya said he wants to fight again at light-heavyweight, but for now will go back to middleweight. 

"This is not a one-off. I'll definitely be back - dare to be great," he said. 

"I'm going back down to 185 and I'm gonna rule that bitch with an iron black fist." 

JAN BLACHOWICZ VS ISRAEL ADESANYA - THE FIGHT 

Adesanya weighed in well under the light heavyweight limit, but looked like he had a height and reach advantage in the opening minutes of the bout. 

The challenger switched stances and threw plenty of feints in the early moments of the first round, while Blachowicz looked to throw with power from the outset. 

It was all stand-up through the first five minutes with Blachowicz biting on nearly every feint.

Blachowicz was more aggressive to open the second, and landed a nice right hand. Another left hook found its way to Adesanya's head as the middleweight champion stayed in the pocket. 


The Pole tried grappling for the first time midway through the second, but Adesanya escaped it and winged an accidental low blow as Blachowicz tried to slide out of range of the kick. 

It was a Blacho-blitz that saw the champ's best moment of the fight, throwing hands to get inside then attempting a takedown. But, after defending it, Adesanya went on the attack, catching Blachowicz on the break and taking control.


While Blachowicz was clearly targetting Adesanya's head, the Kiwi was mixing it up, landing on the champion's legs, mid-section and head. Blachowicz finished the third with a bit of blood from his nose. 

Blachowicz landed a few big shots early in the fourth as the fatigue of the technical battle began to take its toll. Blachowicz scored a huge takedown two minutes into the fourth and maintained a dominant position for the rest of the frame. 

Both men were aggressive with everything on the line in the fifth round, but Blachowicz landed another takedown which edged the round and the fight his way. 

BLACHOWICZ VS ADESANYA - THEY SAID 

Here's a look at how Twitter enjoyed the action. 







 

 

 

Brendan Bradford