Jan Blachowicz doesn’t know what’s next for Israel Adesanya, but he doesn’t believe it’ll be a move to 205.
After a year-long layoff, ‘The Last Stylebender’ returned to the Octagon on Saturday night for a scrap with defending middleweight world champion Dricus Du Plessis. After looking sharp and holding his own against the awkward style of ‘DDP’ through three rounds, things came to a crashing halt in the fourth when Du Plessis appeared to clip Adesanya, getting him down to the ground and securing a rear-naked choke that forced the two-time titleholder to tap out.
Dricus Du Plessis FINISHES Israel Adesanya after DROPPING HIM‼️ pic.twitter.com/r46GjtFaQV
— LOVESPEECH🫶 (Wunknown) (@saucyosxma) August 18, 2024
Speaking with James Lynch in a MiddleEasy exclusive interview, former 205-pound champ Jan Blachowicz shared his thoughts on the UFC 305 headliner and offered congratulations to ‘DDP’ on his first successful defense.
“It was a very good fight,” Blachowicz said. “I didn’t expect that. Dricus is tough. He has a very weird style… I don’t know how to say it [other than] it’s a very tough weird style of MMA, but it’s working. He knows what to do and he uses his style very good. Congratulations to him.”
Immediately following the bout, Adesanya was in good spirits and quickly debunked any rumors of his retirement. As for what comes next, that remains to be seen, but Blachowicz can’t see the ‘Stylebender’ choosing to move from middleweight to light heavyweight after dropping three of his last four.
“I think he should stay at 185 and do something, but we’ll see,” he said. “It’s his decision. I’m not in his head. I don’t know what he’s going to do right now, but we’ll see. Maybe he’ll move to 205, but I don’t think so. It’s gonna be much harder for him than at 185.”
Blachowicz was the first man to hand Adesanya a loss inside the Octagon after the then-middleweight titleholder moved up to 205 looking to claim champ-champ status in 2021.
Caught up with Jan Blachowicz who discussed …
✅Khalil Rountree fighting Alex Pereira #UFC307
✅Shoulder injury and potential return date
✅Hoping to fight Jiri Prochazka next
✅Dricus Du Plessis win over Israel AdesanyaInterview via @MiddleEasy https://t.co/3Fut1hHUpd pic.twitter.com/bB1p0X91I0
— James Lynch (@LynchOnSports) August 20, 2024
Jan Blachowicz Has Three Names in Mind for His Return to the Octagon
It’s been more than a year since Jan Blachowicz has competed. Following a split decision loss to Alex Pereira in July 2023, the Polish powerhouse underwent multiple surgeries to correct a lingering issue with his shoulder.
Blachowicz is hoping to make a return before the end of 2024, though no official announcements have been made. Asked who he’d like to face in his first fight back, the former light heavyweight champion only has three names in mind—all former champions.
“For me, it’s only [Alex] Pereira, [Jamahal]Hill, or [Jiri] Prochazka,” Blachowicz said. “I don’t know about anybody else.”
Both Hill and Prochazka would make a lot of sense considering that—like Blachowicz—they’re both coming off of losses against ‘Poatan’ in their last outing.
Watch the full exclusive interview below:
