Israel Adesanya Confident Of Fighting Jan Blachowicz Next
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya says he is confident his next fight will be against reigning light heavyweight king, Jan Blachowicz.
Both Adesanya and Blachowicz fought at UFC 253 in the main and co-main event respectively. ‘The Last Stylebender’ battered the legs of Paulo Costa on route to a second-round TKO win to defend his middleweight crown. While the Polish 37 year old TKO’d Dominick Reyes in the second round to win the light heavyweight title, vacated by Jon Jones.
Since then, a champion vs champion fight between the two fighters is the talk of the town. Earlier this month, UFC president Dana White revealed that the promotion is working on a fight between Adesanya and Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title in 2021.
The Fight Game Is Ever Changing
Initially, Adesanya planned to defend his title against Jared Cannonier, having predicted that he would defeat Robert Whittaker at UFC 254. Since that did not happen however, ‘The Last Stylebender’ has shifted his attention towards the light heavyweight division. Speaking to MMA Fighting, the UFC middleweight champion said that the landscape is forever-changing in the world of MMA and that as such, he needs to be adaptable.
“The lay of the land, especially in warfare, is ever-changing so you can’t be attached to one idea,” Adesanya explained. “I was attached to the idea that I would fight Jared Cannonier but the lay of the land in warfare is always ever-changing. So when this opportunity came to me it felt like a lay-up from the universe or an alley-oop from the universe and I have to slam dunk it, which I will.”
Confident Of Fighting Blachowicz Next
With an impressive stoppage win over Thiago Santos at UFC Vegas 13, Glover Teixeira has also made a strong case for a title shot at 205lbs, but Adesanya remains confident he will fight Blachowicz for the title next.
“I’m pretty confident it will be my next opponent,” Adesanya said. “Glover had an amazing fight. He did very well. If I’m being objectively honest, rightly so he calls for a title shot cause he feels like he’s up there in age and this is his second shot. But I got there first and I feel like I’ve got the right cards in my hand to make this happen. Not saying he’s not going to get a title shot but I was first in line.”
After losing four of his first six fights in the UFC, Blachowicz has won eight of his last nine inside the Octagon. An impressive run that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Adesanya.
“I’ve been impressed by his comeback from a losing record in the UFC. Where most guys would have been cut, to come back and grab the belt in the fashion that he has, I’ve been impressed.”
Do you think Israel Adesanya deserves the next shot at Jan Blachowicz ahead of Glover Teixeira?
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