This Week’s UFC Title Fight – Adesanya vs Blachowicz
Oh boy! You win the UFC Light Heavyweight crown and you think you’ve got it made! The sun’s always shining, people wave to you in the street, everyone wants you at their parties, you don’t pay for your training gear anymore and all your protein shakes taste like champagne – life’s just so DARNED GOOD! At least that is how life was for Polish fighter Jan Blachowicz until a door in his gym opened to admit an ashen-faced assistant who then sidled up to mutter that Jan’s first Light Heavyweight defence was to be against the Kiwi sensation Israel Adesanya – the ‘Last Stylebender’ himself.
‘Say what?!’
‘It’s true, Dana White said so himself.’
‘B-b-but Israel’s a Middleweight!’
‘Not anymore he ain’t.’
That’s Jan’s problem now. On paper Israel Adesanya is still a middleweight, but in truth he no longer feels challenged by men his own size. After demolishing the also previously unbeaten Brazilian Paulo Costa in a performance that left even Joe Rogan struggling to find the words to describe it (although he did finally manage to call Israel “the best, and most sophisticated striker in the sport!!!”), Israel looked around the division and saw nothing to excite him. So, he decided to start taking on bigger men as apparently they make a louder, more satisfying sound when their heavier bodies crash down onto the canvas beaten – and most likely unconscious.
Already Jan is being written off by the bookies though the man himself says he doesn’t care; “I’m always the underdog.” And maybe being the underdog when fighting against men your own size isn’t so bad. It can even be an advantage with lowered expectations and all that. But when you’re the world champion and you’re underdog against a smaller man… then people really, REALLY don’t think you’re going to win!
And that’s not Jan’s fault – he’s a good fighter. He’s the UFC Light Heavyweight champion for goodness’ sake! It’s just that this match pits a good fighter against one of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen. Like Cooper vs Ali, Thurman vs Pacquiao or Snoopy vs the Red Baron.
So sorry, Jan… but you don’t stand a chance – THHHUUUUUDDDDDD!!!