UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz suffered the indignity of being a two-to-one underdog vs. middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who moved up a division in the main event of UFC 249 on Saturday night. However, Blachowicz won a unanimous decision, sending Adesanya back home, at least for now.

At the post-fight media conference, the champ respectfully asked for some respect.

I defended my belt. Now I prove that I’m a true champion,” said Blachowicz. “And I think now I’m going to have respect from everybody. In the next fight, I will not be the underdog anymore. But I don’t care anyway.

I tried to knock him out in the second round, but he is a great fighter, a good fighter. I should’ve started wrestling a little bit earlier. But he did his distance very well, so I could not catch him. He kicked really hard. I should’ve put a little bit more pressure on him.

There is a widespread view that a fighter only really holds a title after the first successful defense. That’s settled – Blachowicz’ next fight will be vs. Glover Teixeira. who is enjoying a mind-boggling career resurgence. However, something has to come first.

Short break, said Blachowicz. I want to spend some time with my family. I am a father. My child was just born and I don’t spend any time with him because I have to prepare for my fight. Glover Teixeira, he’s going to be my next opponent.

There is also a widespread view that Blachowicz is only champion because Jon Jones vacated the belt. That may be borne out more by memory than reality. Jones barely edged out Thiago Santos via Split Decision, and in the fight after that looked uninspired vs. Dominick Reyes. So, UG, did Saturday’s main event change your view of “Prince of Poland”? And how do you think he will do vs. Teixeira in his second title defense?

h/t Mike Bohn and Ken Hathaway for MMAjunkie