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Israel Adesanya’s next UFC fight will be against Polish fighter Jan Blachowicz.
Kiwi UFC star Israel Adesanya’s next opponent has been revealed, and he could make history in the process.
UFC President Dana White confirmed Sunday that UFC middleweight champion Adesanya will compete for a second belt against Polish light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz. The date or location of the fight has yet to be confirmed.
With Jared Cannonier’s loss to Robert Whittaker last week robbing Adesanya of a new contender for his middleweight crown, a “super fight” against Blachowicz was at the top of his list.
Blachowicz is 27-8, but he has won eight of his last nine bouts and is on a four-game winning streak. With veteran light heavyweight champion Jon Jones vacating the belt to move to heavyweight, Blachowicz captured the title at UFC 253 last month with a second-round TKO of Dominick Reyes.
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* ‘Let’s do this’: UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz eager to face Israel Adesanya in March
* UFC: Top contender Robert Whittaker ready to bide his time for rematch with Israel Adesanya
* Israel Adesanya paving his own path to greatness, says UFC boss Dana White
He took to Twitter this week to welcome the challenge of facing the New Zealander.
“I heard that Israel Adesanya wants to face me next. No problem, if he’s ready to fight in March, let’s do this. Get ready for some fireworks,” Blachowicz said.
Adesanya demolished Paulo Costa to retain his middleweight crown in his last fight at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi in September.
“When the fight (against Paulo Costa) ended, I thought ‘I’m going to have to sit with this boy [Adesanya] and convince him why he needs to fight Whittaker, ‘”White said Sunday.
“So Whittaker comes out and says he doesn’t want to fight him. That’s the craziest shit I’ve ever seen, so now there’s no arguing with Israel.”
Adesanya would create UFC history if he defeats Blachowicz. He would become the first middleweight champion to hold the light heavyweight title at the same time, joining an elite group of other fighters, including Conor McGregor.
