At UFC 259, UFC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will take on Light Heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz. After dominating the middleweight division and defeating the likes of Paulo Costa, Robert Whittaker, Yoel Romero and UFC legend Anderson Silva, Adesanya looks to conquer the 2-division-champion dream by defeating Jan Blachowicz.
But that's easier said than done, with Blachowicz looking unstoppable after steamrolling through the Light Heavyweight division.
JAN BLACHOWICZ AHEAD OF UFC 259
Blachowicz believes Adesanya hasn't fought someone of his caliber yet, maintaining that his "Legendary Polish Power" will shock the Stylebender at UFC 259.
“Because I’ve got the legendary Polish power and when he feels it, he feels it for real,” Blachowicz said. “You will see.
“After first kick or the first punch, he’s going to know what I’m talking about when I’m talking about the legendary Polish power.”
With brutal KO and TKO victories over Luke Rockhold, Corey Anderson and Dominick Reyes, Blachowicz has certainly proven that he has the power to put noteworthy opponents to sleep in the octagon.
But will Jan Blachowicz be able to keep up with a fighter as quick and clever as Adesanya? Well, the Polish champion certainly believes so.
“That’s why I train with faster guys, lighter guys, my category and with the heavyweight guys. Because I want to be ready for everything. This as you know is a game, this is business and you have to be ready for everything.”
ISRAEL ADESANYA AHEAD OF UFC 259
On the flip side, both Adesanya and his head coach Eugene Bareman have said that he will not be adding on any extra size ahead of his showdown with Jan Blachowicz. In fact, Adesanya teased recently that he might come in well under the 205-pound limit for the main event fight that pits champion against champion.
Maybe it’s all true or perhaps Adesanya is just trying to play head games ahead of the fight, but either scenario isn’t affecting Blachowicz as he prepares to defend his light heavyweight title for the first time on Saturday night at UFC 259.
Regardless of whether Adesanya is telling the truth, the move to Light Heavyweight isn't likely to be an easy one. In mixed martial arts, a 20lb difference (Middleweight: 185 ; Light Heavyweight: 205) is astronomical, especially considering most fighters cut weight with sauna suits and salt baths to meet the weight cutoff. In reality, Light Heavyweight fighters walk around in the 215-225lb range.
Will Adesanya be able to conquer the Legendary Polish Power and defeat Jan Blachowicz this Saturday? Or will Blachowicz humble the middleweight champion with the KO power we've seen him capable of. Regardless, it's going to be an incredible fight.
