On Saturday, March 6, unbeaten champion, Israel Adesanya would go compete for a title in a different division as he takes on current UFC light heavyweight titleholder, Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya is currently the UFC Middleweight champion with no losses from 20 fights, 15 of which he won by KO. Blachowicz has a record of 35 fights with 27 wins, 8 by knockout. They share the main card and the fight would take place at the UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Adesanya comes to the octagon after defeating Paulo Costa in the second round of their fight in September 2020. The Last Stylebender handed Costa the first defeat in his MMA career as he defended his title for the second time since winning it in 2019. He is currently number 3 on the UFC pound-for-pound.

Blachowicz has won his last four fights and clinched the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight title in his last fight after defeating Dominic Reyes in just two rounds last September. He is currently number 15 on the UFC pound-for-pound. This would be his first title defense.

If Adesanya wins this fight, he would become the fifth person in the UFC to hold a title in two divisions. He is currently the favourite for the match as it has been in some of his past fights. Adesanya has a very loud personality but the good thing is he has always been able to back it up with action on the ring and it looks like this Saturday would be no different.

It would, however, be unfair to underestimate Blachowicz who has a rich career behind him. It takes a great fighter to have won 27 fights and having won his last four fights, one can be sure that he is bringing a lot into the match. Would he prove a challenge to the Nigerian? Yes, but one should also keep in mind that Adesanya has faced some of the most formidable fighters in his division and he had cleared them.

We would have to wait till the night on March 6 to see who is the better man and if Adesanya can improve his wins to 21.

Written by: Leon Osamor