Jan Blachowicz spoiled Israel Adesanya 205lb debut party tonight at UFC 259 as he successfully defended his light-heavyweight champion by unanimous decision.
Round One:
The main event light-heavyweight title fight is underway in Las Vegas.
Low inside leg kick from Adesanya. Missed leg kick from Blachowicz. Both men throwing feints. Kick to the thigh from Blachowicz. Both fighters working the kicks from range early.
Blachowicz blasts forward with a punch, but Adesanya evaded that. Very much a feeling out process at this stage.
Adesanya with a head kick attempt that’s blocked. Body punch for Blachowicz and now a leg kick. Adesanya throws out a left hand.
Solid kick for Blachowicz. Inside leg kicks exchanged. Adesanya with a body punch. Outside leg kick for Blachowicz.
Body kick for Blachowicz and one to the thigh. Overhand attempt from Adesanya. Side kick to the knee from Adesanya and then a body punch.
Front kick to the body from Adesanya. Adesanya attempts a knee upstairs, but doesn’t connect. Double jab from Blachowicz. Body kick for the 205lb champ.
Straight left for Adesanya. Kick upstairs from him. Front kick to the head attempted by Blachowicz as the round ends.
Round Two:
Body kick from Blachowicz. A flurry of strikes from both men without landing. Leg kick from Adesanya. Blachowicz gets through with a right hand.
Leg kick from Adesanya is checked. Adesanya with a head kick that’s blocked and then fakes a spinning attack.
Left hand for Adesanya. Blachowicz with a punch and a kick behind it. Now Blachowicz pumps out the jab.
Adesanya’s jab comes off the guard and Blachowicz lands a punch to the midsection. Question mark kick attempt from Adesanya.
Adesanya slips on a head kick attempt, but gets up quickly. Blachowicz with a brief flurry of punches. Low kick for Adesanya.
Blachowicz clinches in the center of the Octagon and tries to take Adesanya down, but is unsuccessful.
Low kick for Adesanya to the inside. Now one to the outside of the other leg. Front kick to the body from Blachowicz is almost caught.
Body kick for Adesanya and then a left hand to the head. Jab for Blachowicz. Adesanya throws a kick, but it lands to the cup and forces a brief stoppage.
Back to it now. Adesanya punches to the body. Right hand gets through for Blachowicz. Head kick attempt from Adesanya. Blachowicz goes searching for a high knee.
Body kick from Blachowicz. He lands another and now a body punch. leg kick for Adesanya and another. left hand over the top from Blachowicz.
Jab for Adesanya. Inside low kick from Blachowicz to end the round.
Round Three:
Body kick for Blachowicz. He lands a reaching right hand. Jab for Adesanya. Looping left hook partially connects for Blachowicz.
Blachowicz jumps into a knee and more strikes, then straight into a takedown that he lands. Adesanya gets to his knees and stands back up.
Adesanya lands hard and that gets Blachowicz’s attention. Body kick for Adesanya and then looks for punches, but Blachowicz steps into range and clinches up, pressing Adesanya against the cage.
Half the round remaining as Adesanya slams both his hands into Blachowicz’s ears and then moves out of the clinch nicely.
Blachowicz flashes up a head kick as Adesanya bobs and weaves. Jab lands for Adesanya. Low kick too. One-two connects for Adesanya.
Adesanya with an outside leg kick. Body kick for Blachowicz. Good jab for him. Now one to the body. Counter left hook scores for Blachowicz.
Question mark kick attempt from Adesanya. Straight left for Adesanya, but Blachowicz then clinches up and marches him over to the cage.
Adesanya spins away from teh clinch. Right hand lands for Adesanya as they exchange at the end of the round.
Round Four:
Inside leg kick for Adesanya. Now a one-two connects. Blachowicz goes in on a takedown attempt and Adesanya defends against the cage.
Right hand for Adesanya as they disengage. Right hand for Blachowicz. Jab scores for Adesanya. Front kick to the body from Adesanya.
Calf kick for Adesanya and body kick in response from Blachowicz. Stepping left han from Adesanya. Punching combo from Adesanya. He throws another short flurry, but Blachowicz responds by landing a nice takedown in the center of the Octagon.
Blachowicz in half-guard here with more than half the round remaining. Blachowicz settling in on top and landing some light ground and pound while mostly focusing on control.
Adesanya trying to posture up to escape, but Blachowicz flattens him back down again. Blachowicz now moves into side control with a minute remaining in the round.
Right hand lands for Blachowicz. Adesanya brings him back to half-guard. Body punches from Blachowicz and now an elbow. Adesanya rides out the remaining seconds without taking damage.
Round Five:
Outside leg kick from Adesanya. Now an inside leg kick from Blachowicz that got his opponent’s attention.
jab for Blachowicz. leg kick for Adesanya, two punches in response from Blachowicz. Inside leg kick from Adesanya.
Both men miss with punches. Blachowicz then does land a punch. overhand right for Adesanya. Jab from Blachowicz and again Adesanya counter with a punch of his own.
jab for Blachowicz. Head kick attempt from Adesanya. One-two for Adesanya. Another head kick attempt is blocked. Spinning back kick to the body lands for Adesanya.
Right hand lands for Blachowicz. Punch from Blachowicz and straight into a takedown in the center of the Octagon. Mid-way through the final round that’s a very big moment for the reigning champion.
Blachowicz in Adesanya’s full guard here. Half-guard now and lands a few punches to the head. Nice right hand from Blacowicz. Now more right hands. Blachowicz staying active enough on top to keep this fight grounded and that’s a real problem for Adesanya.
Hammerfists land for Blachowicz and then moves to full mount and rains down a few ground and pound blows to end the round.
Decision:
Quite a cautious fight on the feet at times then and with Blachowicz putting his wrestling advantage to good use in the final two rounds that was enough to help secure him a unanimous decision victory (49-46, 49-45 x2) and hand Adesanya the first loss of his MMA career.
