Get up to date on the main event of UFC 259 between Jan Blachowica and Israel Adesanya.
The last of three title fights at UFC 259 will see light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz (27-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC) attempt to defend his title for the first time against middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC). UFC 259: Adesanya vs Blachowicz airs live from the promotion’s APEX facility in Las Vegas this Saturday, March 6th. The main card will start with a fight time of 10:00 p.m. ET / 7.00 p.m. PT, with the ESPN+ prelims beginning at 8:00 p.m. and the early prelims kicking off at 6:00 PM ET/3:00 PM PT.
How do these two stack up?
Blachowicz: 33 years old | 6’2” | 78” reach
Adesanya: 31 years old | 6’4” | 80” reach
What have these two done recently?
Blachowicz: W – Dominick Reyes (TKO) | W – Corey Anderson (KO) | W – Ronaldo Souza (DEC)
Adesanya: W – Paulo Costa (TKO) | W – Yoel Romero (DEC) | W – Robert Whittaker (KO)
How did these two get here?
The last four years of Jan Blachowicz’s career defined a comeback story. Going 2-4 at the start of his UFC run, the hard-hitting Blachowicz has only lost once in his last nine UFC appearances. With recent finishes against the likes of Luke Rockhold, Corey Anderson and Dominick Reyes on his journey to 205-pound champ, Blachowicz is a new man at light heavyweight.
In MMA, it’s become the norm to move up in weight and challenge for a title. That’s exactly what Israel Adesanya will do as he hopes to spoil Jan Blachowicz’s first title defense of his light heavyweight belt. Adesanya most recently knocked out Paulo Costa at UFC 253, extending his record to a flawless 20-0. “The Last Stylebender” has looked unstoppable as middleweight champion, but can he mimic the same performance with his move up to light heavyweight.
Why should you care?
Adesanya’s technique against Blachowicz’s “Polish-power” will be fascinating to watch.