If you’re going to state your case for a shot at UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, there is no better time to do it than when the champ is sitting right in the front row.
[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag], who has been on the list of contenders at 205 pounds for quite some time but never quite made it to the top, knocked [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] cold in the opening round of their UFC on ESPN+ 25 main event Saturday night.
With Jones closely watching at Santa Ana Star Center in the Albuquerque suburb of Rio Rancho, N.M., Blachwicz (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) earned the knockout with a wicked right hand at the 3:08 mark.
“I know I am one of the best,” said Blachowicz, who had gestured toward Jones after the fight. “I proved that I am the next contender for a title shot.”
"Tell me when… Give me the place and time."@JanBlachowicz calls for the light heavyweight king 👑 #UFCRioRancho pic.twitter.com/rGwmqeXGxM
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) February 16, 2020
The fight had gotten off to a tentative start in the opening minutes, as both competitors seemed to be trying to figure out their range and settle in for a potential 25-minute battle.
Anderson (13-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) didn’t utilize his wrestling base early. He tried but seemed to hesitate as he shot for a double-leg takedown. Blachowicz responded with a thundering right hand, and Anderson appeared to blow out his knee as he hit the mat. Blachowicz landed a hammer fist to the downed Anderson before referee Herb Dean waved things off.
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With the victory, Blachowicz now has won three straight and seven of eight, with three of his past four wins coming by finish. He also avenged a decision loss to Anderson in 2015.
Anderson, for his part, had a four-fight winning streak snapped. Four of his five career losses have come via KO.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 25 results include:
- Diego Sanchez def. Michel Pereira via disqualification (illegal knee) – Round 3, 3:09
- Montana De La Rosa def. Mara Romero Borella via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Brok Weaver def. Kazula Vargas via disqualification (illegal Knee) – Round 1, 4:02
- Ray Borg def. Rogerio Bontorin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)
- Lando Vannata def. Yancy Medeiros via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Daniel Rodriguez def. Tim Means via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:37
- John Dodson def. Nathaniel Wood via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:16
- Scott Holtzman def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Devin Clark def. Dequan Townsend via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
- Merab Dvalishvili def. Casey Kenney via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 29-28)
- Macy Chiasson def. Shanna Young via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
- Raulian Paiva def. Mark De La Rosa via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 4:42