UFC: Joanna Jedrzejczyk sees ‘change’ in Jan Blachowicz ahead of Israel Adesanya fight – ‘you can’t stop this’
- Former UFC strawweight champ ‘loves’ watching middleweight king Adesanya fight – ‘he’s so flexible, so unpredictable’
- But Jedrzejczyk thinks her countryman ‘is just getting stronger physically, and more importantly, mentally’
Former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk is as excited as the rest of us to see Jan Blachowicz and Israel Adesanya collide in the Octagon at UFC 259 on March 7.
The fight will see Blachowicz (27-8), the UFC light heavyweight champ, attempt the first defence of his belt, while Adesanya (20-0), the promotion’s middleweight champ, will look to become a two-division title-holder.
Jedrzejczyk (16-4) has been a close friend of Blachowicz for many years, having come up through the Polish Muay Thai scene with him.
After watching Blachowicz capture the vacant 205-pound title with a blistering, second-round knockout of Dominick Reyes (12-2) in October, she feels he is at the top of his game heading into his fight with Adesanya.
“Jan Blachowicz, he was on fire [against Reyes],” Jedrzejczyk told SCMP. “I could see that. I’ve known Jan for like 15 years, and even a few days before the fight, I called Jan and I could see the difference.
“It was the right time, the right place.
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“I feel like he’s just getting stronger physically and more importantly, mentally. You can’t stop this. I can see that change in Jan.”
While Jedrzejczyk considers Blachowicz a close friend, she is also a big admirer of Adesanya, and believes the fight could go either way.
“I love Adesanya,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I love seeing him fighting.
“Jan has more to lose, and Adesanya has nothing to lose,” she said. “[Adesanya is] the champ in a different weight class – a lower class – and he’s going to fight for Jan’s belt. Jan is bigger, stronger.
“It’s going to be a very interesting match-up. Jan has his power behind his punches, his liver kicks, but you know Adesanya is so flexible, so unpredictable.”
