UFC 259: Jan Blachowicz envisions early head kick KO of Israel Adesanya
- ‘I am not afraid of him … after our fight he will be 20-1,’ Blachowicz says
- ‘We see his holes. Where we can put our fists on his face,’ adds light heavyweight champ
Light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz is envisioning knocking out Israel Adesanya at UFC 259 – with an early head kick.
Blachowicz (27-8) is set to defend his crown for the first time on March 6 in the Las Vegas headliner, against the organisation’s middleweight champ and newest superstar, in what is the highest-profile opportunity of his career.
However, the 37-year-old Pole heads into this potentially life-altering moment just as he did his previous bouts.
“I don’t focus on [Adesanya], I focus on me,” Blachowicz told SCMP MMA. “I don’t focus on him and his hype and stuff like this. I focus on my shape, about my cardio, about my strengths. I’m focused on everything around me, not around him.
“He’s just another opponent and I just have to beat him. And this is one thing I have in my head right now, nothing else.”
The undefeated Nigerian-Kiwi Adesanya (20-0) has built an almost mystical aura of invincibility around him, storming to the undisputed 185-pound title after less than two years in the promotion.
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“We see his holes,” Blachowicz said. “Where we can put our fists on his face. We know that he is a really good stand up fighter, really good striking, really good footwork. And he has his own style but we are ready for that.
“Maybe [past opponents] were afraid of him. I am not. Maybe they don’t fight the way how to beat him. I’m going to be the first one. And after our fight, he will be 20-1.”
It’s likely the judges won’t be needed at the UFC’s Apex facility, with both fighters having a tendency for finishing.
Blachowicz won the vacant 205-pound belt with a second-round TKO of Dominick Reyes (12-2) at UFC 253 last September, before Adesanya dismantled Paulo Costa (13-1) in the main event.
“I see KO in the second round,” Blachowicz said. “Left high kick on his head. This is what I see.
“I believe in my style, I believe in my power, I believe that I can beat him and I will. And I promise you he is gonna feel ‘The Legendary Polish Power’.”
