Megastar Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson took to Twitter and gave a massive shout-out to the newly crowned light heavyweight champion. Jan Blachowicz stopped Dominick Reyes at 04:36 of the second round and has ascended the throne at 205-pounds. Additionally, Jan is the first light heavyweight champion not named Jon Jones or Daniel Cormier since March 2011.
Wow! Blachowicz called it – 2nd round KO. Helluva win, congrats champ! Reyes will be back even stronger. #andnew #UFC253
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 27, 2020
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Johnson is an avid fan of the UFC and he’s been very involved in the sport as of late. Chiefly, his social media shout-out will go ways in further bolstering Jan Blachowicz’s profile amongst casual fans. Reyes was a sizeable favorite in the fight, and many expected him to clinch the divisional crown.
UFC light heavyweights: Dominick Reyes vs Jan Blachowicz
The fight played out on the feet as many expected, and fans heard the back-and-forth exchanges across the Flash Forum. Moreover, kicks factored into the fight much as was expected based on their range-based styles. Observers expected Reyes to put on a clinic much as he did against Jon Jones, in a fight that many believed was shockingly snatched away from him.
The Polish fighter advanced from the opening moments of the fight. However, Reyes was tentative with his movement. Blachowicz met his attempts at leg kicks with a vicious return fire that slowed his offense. Moreover, a nasty leg kick to Reyes’ side left an even nastier looking welt.
As the second round played out, Jan Blachowicz continued to push the pace and was elusive with his own movement. ‘The Devastator’ wasn’t able to utilize his signature counter-punching effectively. Jan’s pressure paid dividends as he caught Dominick against the cage and dropped him. Furthermore, follow-up ground strikes were more than enough for the referee to step in.
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The light heavyweight division finally has a new face at the helm, almost a decade since Jones took the reigns. Jan Blachowicz will be keen to cement his own legacy, far removed from the famed champions who came before him. Not to mention, his affinity to finish fights will lead to more lucrative match-ups in the future.
Who do you think is next for Jan Blachowicz?