Israel Adesanya faces Jan Blachowicz for the Light Heavyweight title at UFC 259
UFC Light Heavyweight Nikita Krylov gave his prediction for the UFC 259 clash between Jan Blachowicz and Israel Adesanya while speaking to RT sport.
This will be Blachowicz’s first title defence since winning the gold while Adesanya comes into this clash undefeated in his MMA career.
Adesanya is also the Middleweight champion and will move up a weight class to face the Pole. Krylov had faced Blachowicz a while back and had a lot of great words for the champion.
However, he also brought up a ton of problems with Adesanya, despite the UFC Middleweight champion being undefeated.
“[Jan] Blachowicz is a true champion. I am glad he became the champion. I think he really deserved it. He’s had a tough, rocky career path – on the contrary to Adesanya.
“And I believe, all it takes to beat Adesanya for him is just to hug him once. Adesanya is a gifted fighter, a gifted striker but every time I think about him I see the [Kelvin] Gastelum fight.
“I fought at the same event. That’s the fight that showed the holes in his game.”
Jan Blachowicz to KO Israel Adesanya?
Krylov also claimed that Blachowicz would have no problems in dealing with Adesanya, especially after Gastelum’s battle.
“If a brawler like Gastelum could easily take him down and even control him at times, Jan should have not have any problems with that.
“Yes, it’s hard to get close to Adesanya but if he can grab him, it would be very hard for Israel to get out.”
Gastelum was the only real UFC star to give Adesanya any problems. However, Krylov also brought up the Polish power of Blachowicz.
He claimed that Blachowicz had only been KO’d once in the UFC but believed the Light Heavyweight champion could do that to Adesanya.
“I don’t think Adesanya could hit Blachowicz that hard. So, I am really with Jan and the whole Light Heavyweight division in this one – with all my heart.”
Adesanya also needs to bulk up before taking on Blachowicz and this should be an interesting fight.
The Middleweight Champion has defeated power hitters like Paulo Costa and Yoel Romero, but Blachowicz will be a bit of a different beast thanks to the extra weight.
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