UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz won the title vacated when Jon Jones started a heavyweight run, by KOing Dominick Reyes at UFC 253. Blachowicz immediately called out Jones, who expressed interest in a quick return, and had previously expressed interest when he was still champ, after Blachowicz KOed Corey Anderson. However, at the UFC on ESPN+ 39 post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White said the next challenger at 205 will be middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
However, that was not the initial plan for the New Zealand-Nigerian star.
Listen when the fight was over on Fight Island, the last fight, I was like I’m going to have to sit down with this kid and convince him on why he needs to fight [Robert] Whittaker, said White. Whittaker comes out and says he doesn’t want to fight him. Craziest s*** I’ve ever seen. So there’s no arguing with Israel now. I thought Whittaker deserved the shot and Whittaker doesn’t want it so we’ll let him do it.
This is a major opportunity for both Blachowics and Adesanya. The new light heavyweight is a little under the radar, and a fight vs. one of the sport’s most visible stars. And should Adesanya win, he will become only the fifth fighter in league history to hold two belts simultaneously, joining Henry Cejudo, Daniel Cormier, Conor McGregor, and Amanda Nunes. And more, Israel Adesanya will become the next Anderson Silva.
Blachowicz had apparently heard the rumors that the fight was coming, and commented two days ago on his social network.
“I have heard that Israel Adesanya wants to face me next,” he tweeted. “No problem, If you are ready to fight in March, let’s do this. Prepare for a some fireworks guys.”
What do you think UG? Who takes it, the little fast guy or the big strong guy?
