Jan Blachowicz vows to become the UFC’s ‘biggest star’ with upset victory over undefeated Israel Adesanya at UFC 259
JAN BLACHOWICZ reckons he’ll be the ‘biggest star in the UFC’ after he knocks out Israel Adesanya.
The reigning light-heavyweight champion will defend his 205lb crown against his middleweight counterpart early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 259 in Las Vegas.
Victory over Blachowicz will see fan-favourite Adesanya become the UFC‘s fifth simultaneous two-division champion and take another step towards superstardom.
But Poland’s Blachowicz plans to steal The Last Stylebender’s thunder with an upset victory in Sin City.
He told SunSport: “I believe when I beat we’ll switch places.
“I’ll take his place and he’ll take mine. I’m going to be the biggest star in the UFC after this win.”
UFC 259 will mark Adesanya’s debut in the light-heavyweight division, which was once the promotion’s marquee weight class.
Despite having never competed at 205lbs in his mixed martial arts career, the charismatic Adesanya goes into his meeting with Blachowicz as the bookies’ favourite.
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The role of underdog is nothing new for Blachowicz, who has grown used to having his chances of victory written off.
In fact, The Prince of Cieszyn, 38, relishes it.
He said: “I like to be the underdog. I don’t care about being the underdog.
“When the door is finally closed, the people who don’t do this, they don’t matter.
“Just this (shows his fists). Just me and my opponent.
“What matters is who has made the better job in the gym.
“And I believe I’m going to be the one who has made the better job in the gym.
“I was once the underdog once and one guy after the fight caught me in the hotel and said, ‘Thank you, my friend.
“‘I won 50,000 bucks thanks to you.'”
Blachowicz’s reign as light-heavyweight king began last September at UFC 253, where he registered a second-round TKO victory over Dominick Reyes to become Poland’s first male UFC champion.
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But his life would take an even better turn two months later when his fiancee Dorota gave birth to their first child, Jan Jr.
And Blachowicz’s namesake has given him an even bigger reason to ensure his reign as champion isn’t a short-lived one.
The former KSW light-heavyweight titleholder said: “I’ve got a bigger motivation now.
“I go to training with a bigger motivation, I train harder because it will make his life a lot easier.
“I want to make him happy, but I also want him to work hard. It’s a big motivation for me.”