UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will become the latest fighter to attempt winning championships at two weight classes.
In a report from ESPN citing Dana White’s confirmation, the current 185-pound champion will move up to challenge light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz on Saturday, March 6th at UFC 259. A location has not been revealed for the pending fight.
Blachowicz did post a response stating everything has been agreed to, although noted he is waiting on the contract to officially be signed:
Everything is agreed. I’m just waiting for the contract to sign it.
Charging #LegendaryPolishPower 🔋. https://t.co/MqavpgjkKO
— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) December 31, 2020
Adesanya, 31, holds an undefeated MMA record of 20-0 winning the championship in October 2019 from Robert Whittaker. In 2020, he made successful defenses against Yoel Romero and recently against Paulo Costa at UFC 253 in September.
Blachowicz, 37, fought Dominick Reyes this past September for the vacant 205-pound championship, which was last held by Jon Jones. Blachowicz came to the UFC in 2014 after competing for KSW in Poland. After a rocky start to his UFC tenure, he has won eight of his previous nine fights including his last four outings that culminated in becoming the new light heavyweight champion.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto added that Adesanya will remain UFC middleweight champion while attempting to become a dual champion.
