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Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC / UFC / via Getty Images
Israel Adesanya watches Poland’s Jan Blachowicz celebrate defending his light heavyweight title.
Israel Adesanya has no regrets after his quest to capture another UFC title in a heavierweight category fell short against Jan Blachowicz in Las Vegas.
The reigning middleweight champion received the first loss of his mixed martial arts career at UFC 259 when Blachowicz (28-8) defended his light heavyweight title by unanimous decision.
But while clearly disappointed with the result, Adesanya (20-1) was by no means discouraged in his post-fight press conference and even expressed his excitement for the opportunity to start the road back.
“Losses are part of life and losses are something I deal with every now and then, it’s just that this is my first in MMA,” said Adesanya, whose previous loss in combat sports came in a fight of kickboxing in 2017.
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“I feel like the boxing model has made losing a bad thing. It sucks to lose, don’t get me wrong. But it’s not the end of the world. I’ve lost many times but I’m still undefeated, this is what this is about (points to his head).
“Right now, my team and I are excited to get home and work on certain little details because it was drawing him in.”
Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC / UFC / via Getty Images
Israel Adesanya shoots Jan Blachowicz, but ultimately fell short against the UFC light heavyweight champion.
Blachowicz won the significant hit count 107-78 by landing three tackles, two of which in the final two rounds played a crucial role in closing out the victory.
Adesanya was courteous in defeat, labeling Blachowicz a “great champion” and made no excuses for his performance.
“If I was going to lose to someone, what better guy to lose than a guy like Jan,” said the Nigerian-Kiwi star.
“A classy champion, a great guy, a very nice guy. A guy who has a great history in himself; on his way to being eliminated from the company, he comes back and dominates, he becomes a light heavyweight champion and then gives this guy, a legend from the future, his first loss. “
Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC / UFC / via Getty Images
Jan Blachowicz on the attack on Kiwi challenger Israel Adesanya.
Despite granting a significant weight advantage to the Polish fighter, Adesanya felt that the size difference did not play a role until the fifth and final round. He also said that the smaller octagon used in UFC Apex felt no different from the regular-size cage.
While Blachowicz ranked at the top in key stats, the contest seemed much closer than the judges’ final scorecards, particularly in the first three rounds.
Adesanya only received one round from each of the judges, while two of the three officials gave Blachowicz a final round of 10-8, raising some eyebrows.
Still, Adesanya admitted that he was beaten up by the best man in the night.
“I don’t know about those 10-8 rounds and not about some of those judges’ scorecards. But tonight I lost the fight to the best fighter, the most astute fighter,” he said.
“It wasn’t like a …- screech or anything like that. He just hung on and took a few shots to try and keep him busy enough that the referee wouldn’t resist him. And that’s a veteran move because he’s a veteran at this one. game “.
Adesanya, whose middleweight belt was not on the line Sunday, confirmed that he would return to his regular division to defend his crown.
And ‘The Last Stylebender’ had a warning for anyone who thought that Blachowicz had set the plan to beat him.
“They will definitely see me at 205 (pounds) in the future, but right now, I have a division to master,” added Adesanya.
“I know you’re going to think, ‘that’s it, you just have to take it down and you’ve got it.’ . “
