Tag: Jan Blachowicz

Luke Rockhold Responds To Paulo Costa Drunk Excuse: ‘Just Shut Up’

RockholdLuke Rockhold is clearly not a fan of Paulo Costa. Costa made headlines recently when he claimed he was kind of drunk or hungover during his middleweight title defeat to Israel Adesanya at UFC 253 in September. “I was kind of drunk (when) I fought, maybe, on (sic) hangover,” Costa said. “I couldn’t sleep because […]

Rockhold

Luke Rockhold is clearly not a fan of Paulo Costa.

Costa made headlines recently when he claimed he was kind of drunk or hungover during his middleweight title defeat to Israel Adesanya at UFC 253 in September.

“I was kind of drunk (when) I fought, maybe, on (sic) hangover,” Costa said. “I couldn’t sleep because of the (leg) cramps. Keep in mind that the fight happens at 9 a.m. (local time), we have to wake up at 5 (a.m.) to get ready, stretch, wrap the hands. The UFC told us to wake up at 5 in the morning to go to the arena to fight. I hadn’t slept until 2:30 (a.m).“

“It was my mistake and I don’t blame anyone else, it was something I chose (to do), but, in order to try to sleep, because I had to sleep since I was awake for twenty-four hours, I had wine, too much wine, a bottle (of wine) to try to black out. I had a glass and didn’t work. Two glasses, it didn’t work. Half bottle, didn’t work. I had it all.”

Those comments naturally drew ridicule from many in the combat sports world and Rockhold — who is targeting a comeback in the division soon — is the latest to comment on the excuse.

“The Paulo Costa guy’s just annoying. Stupid,” Rockhold told Submission Radio. “Talking about getting drunk off wine is just the dumbest thing I’ve ever fucking heard.

“Just shut up. Shut up and stop making excuses like that. That’s just a farfetched… pretty dumb. Pretty f*cken dumb.” 

As for Costa’s old foe Adesanaya and his chances against Rockhold’s last opponent in Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 this weekend, the former middleweight champion certainly likes them.

“I like Israel in the fight,” Rockhold added. “You never know, Jan has a very herky jerky style. I rushed the fight. I thought he was more visible. He wasn’t as clean and as confident as I thought he would be. I just over put myself into a takedown situation, which I don’t normally do. I thought I could just finish the fight pretty easily, and I wasn’t used to his size and strength and overcommitted to a takedown and just juiced my arms up.

“And by the time I got out of the clinch I was just like, I was watered down, had all the blood in my arms and I couldn’t get off like I should. If I was more patient and just waited for my shots, my opportunities, I think it would be a much different fight. And I see Israel has just this confidence and I think he’s peaking right now. I think he’ll be more patient. I think he’ll see Jan, and I think he’ll find his mark more often than not.”

What do you make of Rockhold’s comments?

Luke Rockhold Calls For Till or Vettori In Big Comeback Fight

Luke Rockhold is ready to return for a comeback fight, and the former champion has his eyes set on Darren Till or Marvin Vettori. After a couple of setbacks and a failed debut at 205lbs, Rockhold is looking to get back in the driver’s seat. The t…

Luke Rockhold is ready to return for a comeback fight, and the former champion has his eyes set on Darren Till or Marvin Vettori. After a couple of setbacks and a failed debut at 205lbs, Rockhold is looking to get back in the driver’s seat. The two setbacks Rockhold experienced were against some of the […]

Jan Blachowicz Shares The Exact Finish That Will Make Adesanya 20-1

Jan Blachowicz has a crystal-clear picture on what he will do to hand Israel Adesanya his first professional defeat. There is no denying that Israel Adesanya is one of the best fighters in the sport today. In only three years in the promotion, Adesanya…

Jan Blachowicz has a crystal-clear picture on what he will do to hand Israel Adesanya his first professional defeat. There is no denying that Israel Adesanya is one of the best fighters in the sport today. In only three years in the promotion, Adesanya has managed to become the #3-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world. […]

Jan Blachowicz Predicts Second Round Head Kick KO Of Israel Adesanya

Jan BlachowiczLight-heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz has predicted he will knock out Israel Adesanya with a head kick inside two rounds at UFC 259. Blachowicz won the 205lb strap by taking out Dominick Reyes in two rounds at UFC 253 in September 2020. On the same card, Adesanya made the second defence of his middleweight belt by […]

Jan Blachowicz

Light-heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz has predicted he will knock out Israel Adesanya with a head kick inside two rounds at UFC 259.

Blachowicz won the 205lb strap by taking out Dominick Reyes in two rounds at UFC 253 in September 2020.

On the same card, Adesanya made the second defence of his middleweight belt by quickly stopping Paulo Costa.

‘Stylebender’ will attempt to become a two-weight UFC champion by dethroning Blachowicz on March 6.

The Polish puncher told SCMP MMA he isn’t buying Adesanya’s hype heading into their blockbuster bout.

“I don’t focus on [Adesanya], I focus on me,” Blachowicz said. “I don’t focus on him and his hype and stuff like this. I focus on my shape, about my cardio, about my strengths. I’m focused on everything around me, not around him.

“He’s just another opponent and I just have to beat him,” Blachowicz added. “And this is one thing I have in my head right now, nothing else.”

Blachowicz notes Adesanya’s strengths but insists he is prepared to deal with them and ultimately give the New Zealander the first defeat of his MMA career.

“We see his holes,” Blachowicz said. “Where we can put our fists on his face. We know that he is a really good stand up fighter, really good striking, really good footwork. And he has his own style but we are ready for that.

“Maybe [past opponents] were afraid of him. I am not. Maybe they don’t fight the way how to beat him. I’m going to be the first one. And after our fight, he will be 20-1.”

The 37-year-old made a very specific prediction about how he sees the fight going.

“I see KO in the second round,” Blachowicz said. “Left high kick on his head. This is what I see.

“I believe in my style, I believe in my power, I believe that I can beat him and I will. And I promise you he is gonna feel ‘The Legendary Polish Power’.”

Do you think Jan Blachowicz will beat Israel Adesanya at UFC 259?

Glover Teixeira Will Serve As Backup For Adesanya vs. Blachowicz

TeixeiraGlover Teixeira has confirmed that he will officially serve as a backup fighter for Jan Blachowicz and Israel Adesanya’s fight for the Light Heavyweight belt. Similar to how Michael Chandler journeyed to Fight Island in order to serve as a cover for Nurmagomedov vs Gaethje, Teixeira will make weight in case either fighter drops out. […]

Teixeira

Glover Teixeira has confirmed that he will officially serve as a backup fighter for Jan Blachowicz and Israel Adesanya’s fight for the Light Heavyweight belt. Similar to how Michael Chandler journeyed to Fight Island in order to serve as a cover for Nurmagomedov vs Gaethje, Teixeira will make weight in case either fighter drops out.

According to MMA Fighting, Teixeira confrimed the news via text message, stating that “I’ll be backup and will have to go there and make weight.” Teixeira will supposedly be finincially compensated for his troubles, in regards to his fight camp and weight cut.

Despite being nearly 40 fights into his career, Glover is in as good a run of form as he has ever been in his UFC career. A 5 fight win streak, which includes victories over high-level competition such as Thiago Santos, Ion Cutelaba and Anthony Smith. Teixeira has previously stated that he believed that Dana White would give him an immediate title shot, following his victory over Santos. However, it would appear that he has since accepted that the 185lb champion, Israel Adesanya, is currently ahead of him in the pecking order.

Adesanya is currently one of the UFC’s most popular fighters, with an impressive 20-0 record, having dispatched the majority of his own divisions elite. Having previously fought up at light heavyweight during his kickboxing career, the Blachowicz fight seems the most natural step forward for ‘The Last Stylebender.’

Do you think Adesanya deserves a shot at the 215lb title before Glover Teixeira? Let us know in the comments.