Morning Report: Jan Blachowicz teases Israel Adesanya rematch at 185 pounds: ‘Why not? I will do it’
Jan Blachowicz is open to rematching Israel Adesanya, so long as it’s for the middleweight title.
Earlier this month, Adesanya defended his belt for the fifth time, winning a lackluster decision over Jared Cannonier at UFC 276. The win earned Adesanya a lot of criticism for his defensively-minded approach, particularly after promising to deliver a spectacular performance, and had some people arguing that Adesanya’s loss to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259, during a failed attempt to move up and claim the light heavyweight title, has caused “The Last Stylebender” to become totally risk averse, to the detriment of entertainment. Fortunately, Blachowicz has a solution to the problem: they run the fight back, this time at 185 pounds.
“Maybe this is the reason that now he will be very careful in the fights to not make any mistakes,” Blachowicz told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “Just don’t lose the fight. Maybe I have to cut the weight and give him rematch in his category.
“If I have a chance, why not? For Izzy and his belt, to fight for the belt? I can try.”
Blachowicz is a career light heavyweight, having never competed outside the weight class during his MMA run, and so many might assume that the man with the “Legendary Polish Power” is just having a laugh, but the former UFC light heavyweight champion says he’s absolutely serious.
“I don’t remember [the lightest I’ve been as an MMA fighter] but when I was a fighter in Muay Thai, it was 91 kilos or [200 pounds],” Blachowicz said. “For a title, I can sacrifice myself a little bit. Why not? I will do it.”
Blachowicz’s comments come after recently finding himself win a state of limbo in the light heavyweight division. Blachowicz defeated Aleksandar Rakic in May, winning when Rakic suffered a knee injury, and appeared to be in line for the first crack at newly crowned light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka, but earlier this week “Denisa” stated he wants a rematch with Glover Teixeira next, leaving Blachowicz out in the cold. And if neither Prochazka or Adesanya wants the smoke, well, Blachowicz is also willing to entertain a fight with welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, after the two shared a face off backstage at UFC 276.
“He’s big, so who knows?” Blachowicz said. “If he wants to do it. If not Jiri, why not him?”
With two of the “Three Kings” now firmly in his crosshairs, the question becomes how long until Blachowicz targets heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou? And with Blachowicz already saying he intends to move up to heavyweight in a couple of years, a callout of Francis Ngannou can’t be far behind.
TOP STORIES
Salt. Nate Diaz blasts Khabib Nurmagomedov’s title reign, Hall of Fame induction.
Beef. Alex Pereira on Israel Adesanya’s UFC 276 post-fight comments: ‘Ask him if he was impressed when I knocked him out’.
Samurai Code. Jan Blachowicz on Jiri Prochazka’s call for Glover Teixeira rematch: ‘He will say everything to protect himself’.
Goals. Miesha Tate: Julianna Pena took out Amanda Nunes, now ‘I want to take out the other GOAT’ Valentina Shevchenko.
Shock. Brian Ortega still shocked Alexander Volkanovski escaped his submissions: ‘How in the f*** did this man get out of that choke?’.
Rankings. The latest updates to the MMA Fighting Global Rankings sees big changes at middleweight and lightweight.
VIDEO STEW
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UFC 276: The Thrill and the Agony preview.
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Top finishes from UFC Long Island fighters.
Kimbo Slice’s best mic moments.
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LISTEN UP
Rankings. Discussing the latest changes to the MMA Fighting Global Rankings.
No Bets Barred. Discussing the best bets for UFC Long Island.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Beefing before UFC London.
See you in London Charles Johnson
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) July 13, 2022
8 days to go! #TeamMokaev #UFC pic.twitter.com/uLBVwzDyjP
You posing with a gun, that shit won’t be there when u see me kid @muhammadmokaev Im from the Lou, done been around real shootouts and seen real hitters my whole life. Keep that same energy @ufc @MMAWeeklycom @bisping @arielhelwani pic.twitter.com/CVI5VemKjU
— Charles "InnerG" Johnson (@InnerGmma) July 14, 2022
I born in Dagestan and grew up in Manchester these 2 places can’t be compared to your Lou or whatever
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) July 14, 2022
Don’t get too emotional about this picture you getting smashed Saturday night, I’ve gone past 30 guys like you and you ain’t different to rest of them! https://t.co/zRjWn2mShR
I’m really from that shit. You been groomed since u was 12 to play in a cage where a ref can save you if shit get outta control. This how i know you and yo team goofies. Gunplay ain’t a joke. Real ones would never
— Charles "InnerG" Johnson (@InnerGmma) July 14, 2022
Keep that same energy when u see me kid @muhammadmokaev pic.twitter.com/GtwI0agilK
Still crying , ffs
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) July 14, 2022
Googling images, chill out bro! https://t.co/LeYk04FVLZ
Tate looking real lean ahead of her flyweight debut.
Looking ripped and feeling strong
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) July 14, 2022
And still eating good pic.twitter.com/YW0VAZM6k3
Sure. Why not?
I’m the worst style matchup for khamzat and usman and ufc knows that …them two are obviously the biggest money fight together so they couldn’t risk me beating either one yet but soon I’ll be undeniable
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 13, 2022
Jan’s hit list.
3 Kings reunited in Vegas #3Kings pic.twitter.com/EaVfxDv5yJ
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) July 13, 2022
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ji Yeon Kim (9-5-2) vs. Joselyne Edwards (11-4); UFC 277, July 30.
Alatengheli (15-8-2) vs. Chad Anheliger (12-5); UFC 279, Sep. 10.
Anthony Hernandez (9-2, 1 NC) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (14-5, 1 NC); UFC Fight Night, Sep. 17.
Sam Hughes (7-4) vs. Piera Rodriguez (8-0); UFC Fight Night, Oct. 15.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thanks for reading! See y’all tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
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