If it’s a light heavyweight title shot that Israel Adesanya desires, Jan Blachowicz is ready and willing to oblige.
Blachowicz, the UFC’s 205-pound champion, made it clear Thursday that he would welcome Adesanya, the UFC’s middleweight champ, moving up to challenge for his title.
In response to a NZ Herald report that Adesanya is ready to negotiate a champion-vs.-champion showdown for early next year, Blachowicz made it clear that the interest is mutual.
“I have heard that Israel Adesanya wants to face me next,” Blachowicz tweeted. “No problem. If you are ready to fight in March, let’s do this. Prepare for a some fireworks guys.”
After Adesanya (20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) finished Paulo Costa last month at UFC 253, the champ declared he was ready to give Jared Cannonier the next title shot if he beat Robert Whittaker at UFC 254. That didn’t happen, though, as Whittaker defeated Cannoner by unanimous decision last week for his second straight win since losing the title to Adesanya. It keeps Whittaker firmly as the No. 1 contender, which might not interest Adesanya since his win over Whittaker came just last year.
UFC president Dana White has said an Adesanya-Whittaker rematch is “very appealing,” but perhaps Adesanya’s wishes would sway him.
Blachowicz (27-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC) became the light heavyweight champion when he TKO’d Dominick Reyes at UFC 253 to claim the title vacated by Jon Jones, who’s been entrenched in a bitter war of words with Adesanya.
Blachowicz is without a clear No. 1 contender within his division. An upcoming Nov. 7 fight between Thiago Santos and Glover Teixeira could clear things up.