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MMA: Poland's Błachowicz retains UFC belt

07.03.2021 12:18
Poland’s Jan Błachowicz overcame the previously unbeaten Israel Adesanya to retain his world light-heavyweight MMA title at the Ultimate Fighting Championship 259 in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Jan Błachowicz at the UFC 259 weigh-in prior to his fight with Israel Adesanya.  March 5th, 2021, Las Vegas, USA.
Jan Błachowicz at the UFC 259 weigh-in prior to his fight with Israel Adesanya. March 5th, 2021, Las Vegas, USA. Photo: PAP/Marcin Cholewiński

In what was described as the most anticipated clash of the year, the 38-year-old Pole scored a unanimous points decision in his favour: 49-46, 49-45 and 49-45.

It was the first defeat inflicted on 31-year-old Adesanya, the Nigeria-born middleweight king of New Zealand, who was looking to become the fifth double-weight world champion in UFC history.

Błachowicz came into the fight as the underdog. He managed to bounce back from a slow start and began to take control in the fourth round when a big left hander and a takedown saw him keep Adesanya under wraps on the ground.

He had Adesanya down again in the fifth for a sustained period of pressure that put the decision beyond doubt.

“Now I think I deserve some respect. I’m the true champion right now,” a triumphant Błachowicz said after the fight.

(mo)

Source: PAP, Reuters