Israel Adesanya vs. Jan Blachowicz booked for UFC 259 on March 6
Israel Adesanya will look to become a champ-champ at UFC 259
Israel Adesanya’s anticipated move up to light heavyweight will take place in the first quarter of 2021, as the UFC middleweight champion will step up to challenge Jan Blachowicz for the UFC light heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 259 on March 6.
With a win over Blachowicz, Adesanya would become the eighth fighter in UFC history to win UFC championships in two different weight classes — and would become the fifth to hold two UFC titles simultaneously.
Israel Adesanya vs. Jan Blachowicz in champ vs. champ main event of UFC 259
Adesanya is unbeaten in his MMA career at a perfect 20-0. He became interim middleweight champion at UFC 236 in April 2019 by defeating Kelvin Gastelum in an all-time classic and followed it up by knocking out Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 six months later to become the undisputed champion.
Adesanya made two successful title defenses this year, taking a lackluster decision over Yoel Romero at UFC 248 in March before quickly finishing Paulo Costa in a battle of unbeaten champion and challenger at UFC 253 in September.
Adesanya had teased a move up in weight while having a long Twitter beef with the now-former long-reigning light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. In fact, UFC President Dana White at one point teased it was the fight to make for 2021.
That same UFC 253 card where Adesanya retained against Costa saw Blachowicz become UFC light heavyweight champion in the co-main event, as Blachowicz scored his own second-round TKO over Dominick Reyes to claim the then-vacant strap.
Blachowicz scored his fifth performance bonus in the win over Reyes. He will enter the fight with Adesanya on a four-fight win streak and holding eight victories in his last nine bouts.
Next. Every UFC interim title fight ranked from worst to best. dark