Jan Blachowicz was questioned at every turn as he became the light heavyweight champion, and that continued before his first title defense on Saturday. But once again, Blachowicz defied the chance and retained his championship in the UFC 259 main event with a victory over middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in Adesanya’s bid to become a two-division champion.
Blachowicz and Adesanya fought a tense first three rounds, with both men limiting mistakes and making the others pay. It was in the championship rounds that Blachowicz displayed his bona fides championship, eventually using his size and power advantage to take down Adesanya and grind away with soil and pounds.
By taking away the points in that big final round, Blachowicz was able to pull away on the scorecards and secure the victory with 49-46, 49-45 and 49-45.
“I thought he would be a little faster, but he’s not hitting that hard,” Blachowicz said after his victory. “He was slower, but he hit harder, it was something I did not expect. I have to do my left hand a little more, I have to do more jabs, put more pressure on him. But the game plan is one, and fight is second, another thing. ‘
As for the following for the champion? Blachowicz believes the next man should be veteran light heavyweight Glover Teixeira.
“I think [Teixeira] deserve it, “Blachowicz said. He will have to wait a bit so I can rest and be with my family. But he will wait, he will be next. ‘
CBS Sports was with you all the way on Saturday to give all the results and highlights of the UFC 259 below.
UFC 259 Card and Results
- Jan Blachowicz (c) def. Israel Adesanya by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-45, 49-45)
- Amanda Nunes (c) def. Megan Anderson via submission of the first round (arm bar)
- Aljamain Sterling (c) def. Petr Yan via DQ in the fourth round (illegal knee)
- Islam Makhachev def. Drew Dober via third round (poor triangle)
- Defeat Aleksandar Rakic. Thiago Santos unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Dominick Cruz defeats Casey Kenney by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
- Kyler Phillips defeats Song Yadong by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Askar defeats Askarov. Joseph Benavidez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
- Kai Kara-France defeats Rogerio Bontorin via TKO in the first round (punch)