Jan Blachowicz was crowned the new UFC Light-heavyweight champion tonight in the co-main event of UFC 253 after TKO’ing Dominick Reyes late in the second round of their fight for the vacant title.
Round One:
The co-main event fight for the vacant light-heavyweight belt is underway on Fight Island.
Low leg kick for Blachowicz. Inside leg kick for Reyes. Now an outside leg kick for Blachowicz. Again he lands that.
Body kick for Reyes. Very nicely timed straight left from Reyes. Inside leg kick for Reyes. Front kick to the body from him now.
Right hand and then a body kick from Blachowicz. Body punch for Blachowicz. Leg kick for Reyes. Now a head kick attempt.
Thigh kick from Blachowicz and a counter punch from Reyes in return. Front kick to the body from Reyes. Two-piece combo from Blachowicz doesn’t quite connect cleanly.
Nice body kick from Reyes. Right hand from Blachowicz just misses. Left hand for Blachowicz and then a body kick.
Three straight punches from Blachowicz and another kick behind it. Inside low kick from Blachowicz. A couple of punches from him come off the guard.
Missed front kick from Blachowicz at the end of the round and Reyes gets off a body kick before the horn sounds.
Round Two:
Nice lead uppercut from Reyes. Now a leg kick. Flurry of punches from Blachowicz as he charges forward, but most were defended.
Head kick attempt from Reyes, but doesn’t connect. Front kick to the body for Reyes. Blachowicz trying to counter, but nothing doing this time.
Leg kick for Blachowicz. Another short flurry of punches for Blachowicz. Reyes with a leg kick. Now a jab for him.
Front kick to the body from Reyes is a bit short. Leg kick for Blachowicz. Hooks from Blachowicz get through.
Punch and then a missed head kick from Reyes. Left hand for Reyes and then another head kick attempt.
Solid body kick from Reyes and then one to the leg. Missed punch from Blachowicz, but does land the leg kick behind it. Good straight left for Reyes. Two-piece combo for Blachowicz. More punches and then a left kick from Blachowicz.
Straight punches from Blachowicz sends Reyes backwards. Reyes now firing back and both are throwing caution to the wind here.
Blachowicz lands a big left hook and it rocks Reyes badly, sending him wobbling backwards on unsteady legs and then falling to the mat. Blachowicz looking for ground and pound and the ref has already seen enough, leading to the TKO stoppage at 4.36mins of the second round. Yan Blachowicz is the UFC’s new light-heavyweight champion!
