UFC 253 video recap: Blachowicz finishes Reyes to win belt

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

Jan Blachowicz is the new UFC light heavyweight champion after beating Dominick Reyes at UFC 253.

In the co-main event of UFC 253, Jan Blachowicz stopped Dominick Reyes in the second round to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion.

What was the high point of the fight?

Blachowicz came out aggressive in the first round and was throwing more strikes than Reyes. “The Devastator” was still having his moments in the first round too, landing some good leg kicks and catching Blachowicz off guard with a hard one-two.

Reyes didn’t improve after a tentative first round, and it continued to be Blachowicz who would be the more active fighter. Midway through the round Blachowicz landed a few hard hooks to the head of Reyes and he fell to the canvas, and after some follow-up shots whilst he was on the ground the referee stopped the fight giving Blachowicz the second round TKO victory.

Where do both men go from here?

It’s a huge win for Blachowicz, who at the age of 37 has become a UFC champion for the first ever time in his career. There aren’t a lengthy list of contenders at 205-pounds who deserve a title shot next, so maybe Blachowicz should wait for the winner of Thiago Santos vs. Glover Teixeira next.

The loss for Reyes means that he has now missed out on the 205-pound title in his last two fights. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for Reyes as he looked so good in his wins before the losses. The loser of the Santos vs. Teixeira fight makes sense for him next.

Watch it now, later or never?

Blachowicz evidenced the “Polish Power” he has long talked about in the finish, watch it now.