UFC 259: Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya Picks and Predictions

Jan Blachowicz and Israel Adesanya face off on Saturday in a light heavyweight title bout for the main event of UFC 259 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. 

Israel Adesanya wants to prove he is the best in the world and winning this fight would be another step in that direction Adesanya is moving up from middleweight to light heavyweight to fight for this belt. Adesanya comes into this fight with a perfect 20-0 record and each of his last four wins have been for the belt. Adesanya is averaging 4.10 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.33 significant strikes per minute. Adesanya is a methodical fighter that wants to pick his opponent apart as the fight goes on. The Last Stylebender’s isn’t going to take the fight to the ground, but he does a good job of stopping his opponents who go for takedowns. Adesanya’s last fight came against Paulo Costa; it was a dominating performance that was finished midway through the second round by knockout. 

On the other side of this fight is Jan Blachowicz who currently holds the middleweight belt. After beating Dominick Reyes in his last fight. In that fight it was late in the second round that Blachowicz was able to win by knockout. Each of Blachowicz’s last two wins have come by knockout. Blachowicz is averaging 3.49 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.74 significant strikes per minute. Blachowicz at times will want to get the fight to the ground and he is currently averaging 1.10 successful takedowns every 15 minutes. Blachowicz is successful on 52 percent of his takedown attempts and he stops 65 percent of his opponents' takedown attempts.