UFC: Jan Blachowicz Sends Warning To Israel Adesanya

UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz has sent a warning to middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, over his potential move up to the 205lbs division.

In the co-main event of UFC 253, Blachowicz defeated Dominick Reyes to win the light heavyweight title, vacated by Jon Jones. In the main event of the same card, Adesanya defended his middleweight title by beating Paulo Costa via second round TKO.

Earlier this month, UFC president Dana White revealed that Adesanya will challenge Blachowicz for the UFC light heavyweight title in 2021. Although the fight hasn’t been made official yet, the new 205lbs champion has warned ‘The Last Stylebender’ over the potential title fight.

“I’ll Be The First To Beat Him”

Speaking to MMA Fighting, Blachowicz spoke about his fight with Adesanya, and revealed that the UFC sent him a text about the fight on his way back home after UFC 253.  

“One day after my fight, I knew that they would like to do this fight,” Blachowicz said. “They text me on the plane when I was on the way home. So I was a little bit surprised, but also excited because he is one of the best. He never lost a fight in MMA so if they make this fight, I will be the first to beat him and he will remember it for the rest of his life. It will be amazing. Small bonus for me.”

Warning For Adesanya

Adesanya has been on a dominant run in the middleweight division, with finishes against former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 243, and Paulo Costa, in his last three fights. But Blachowicz believes what happens at middleweight stays there, and a move up to light heavyweight would be a completely different experience for the Nigerian born Kiwi.

“All my life I’m in this category, so I know everything about this category. Everything is different,” Blachowicz said. “Cardio is different. Timing is different. Speed is different. You can train with heavyweight guys, you can train with 205 [pounds] guys but this is training. A fight is completely different. When guys change their category, they’ve got problems with that, problems with everything. Not everyone can be ready for that. We will see.”

Tune-Up Fight At 205Lbs

Blachowicz also gave a piece of advice to the reigning middleweight champion, recommending Adesanya take a tune-up fight at light heavyweight before thinking about fighting him.

“Maybe Adesanya will be ready for that but I don’t think so,” Blachowicz said. “If he wants to make his first fight at 205, with the champion, it’s going to be a problem for him. I think it would better for him, safer for him if he makes first fight with someone from the contenders, not in the top of the rankings but someone from behind. That’s going to be a problem for him, not for me. If he wants to feel the legendary Polish power, I’m going to be ready for his pretty style.”

Fighting Glover Teixeira

The Polish 37 year old also spoke about fighting Glover Teixeira, who is coming off an impressive third-round finish against Thiago Santos at UFC Vegas 13, which earned him the number one contender spot in the 205lbs division.

“It’s good. Because I don’t like when my life is boring,” Blachowicz said. “I like when something happens all the time. Now I’ve got two opponents. I can fight both of them in one night, no problem. I do this before. I did three fights in one night. I’m joking. They are good fighters, it would be hard to make this happen. I don’t like to choose my opponents. We’ll see what the UFC [says], if they tell me you’re next fight is going to be Glover, I will sign that no problem. If they tell me your next opponent is Adesanya, I will sign that also. I don’t like to choose. If they want to give me Glover, no problem. If they want to give me Adesanya, no problem.”

Israel Adesanya or Glover Teixeira, who should Jan Blachowicz fight next?

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