Alexander Gustafsson explains why former opponent Jan Blachowicz will defeat Israel Adesanya
Alexander Gustafsson explains why former opponent Jan Blachowicz will defeat Israel Adesanya this Saturday night in the main event of UFC 259.
Gustafsson fought Blachowicz at UFC Hamburg in September 2016, with Gustafsson taking home a unanimous decision win, so he’s the right guy to ask for a prediction on this particular title fight. Just like Adesanya, Gustafsson is a long and rangy striker who has had plenty of success inside the Octagon, so some have pointed to that fight as a potential blueprint for how Adesanya vs. Blachowicz could play out. Speaking to Frontkick Online, Gustafsson predicted that Blachowicz will successfully defend the UFC lightweight title and he explained exactly why he thinks so.
“It’s a good fight. I think Blachowicz is going to win that fight because he’s a big guy and he’s very tricky. He has weird boxing. He likes to counter a lot, and he also has a really good ground game. And he’s a bigger guy. So that’s why I think if he uses those tools he’s going to win the fight,” Gustafsson said.
“I fought Blachowicz many years ago and I think he’s developed as a fighter. I see him now, he’s very dangerous. I think he learned his lesson, and he’s back. He knocked out (Dominick) Reyes and he came back and people counted him out and he comes back and proved people wrong. It’s going to be a very interesting fight with Adesanya. Let’s see what happens I think Blachowicz is going to win that fight.”
Gustafsson has not competed since a submission loss to Fabricio Werdum last summer on Fight Island in his heavyweight debut. Gustafsson said he is now back in training and is doing between six and eight sessions a week. He doesn’t have a fight lined up and hasn’t started sparring yet, but said he would step up his training to a higher intensity if booked for a fight. As for a rematch with Blachowicz? Gustafsson would do it, but only at 205lbs.
“If I would fight Blachowicz again, I think it would probably be at light heavyweight,” Gustafsson said.
Do you agree with Alexander Gustafsson that Jan Blachowicz will beat Israel Adesanya at UFC 259?
