UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya betting odds, preview, and pick

Destiny awaits Israel Adesanya this weekend at UFC 259, but he’ll have to defeat the formidable Jan Blachowicz if he hopes to make history.

We have the preview and pick you need before the big fight.

Nowhere left to go but up

After a lengthy run at middleweight leaving no challengers left to face him, Adesanya is opting to chase history at the expense of Blachowicz. The trip to light heavyweight is the logical step, but it comes with some risk.

Adesanya is a natural striker. He’s won 15 fights by stoppage and isn’t afraid to get hit while he’s bloodying up his opponents. That brash, almost sadistic, awareness has made him one of the best fighters in the UFC.

Of course, he’s done this all against fellow middleweights. More so than in any other combat sport, climbing up in weight and still competing at an elite level has proven most difficult in the UFC.

Blachowicz is being written off

Blachowicz is the underdog, and presumably outgunned, but that was the same case in his previous fights before destroying Dominick Reyes to win the title.

He’s won three of his last four fights within the distance, and is no one-trick pony. While not as athletically gifted as Adesanya, he’s a well-rounded striker who is also strong on the ground and will almost certainly be landing the harder shots should the two begin to trade.

Adesanya will make history

Blachowicz is being overlooked, but Adesanya’s versatility and athleticism is too hard to ignore. In addition to that, Blachowicz is at a physical disadvantage in both height and reach, and Adesanya is the fresher fighter by far.

Blachowicz's best path to victory also involves him taking punishment in hopes of landing a devastating counter shot. It will be apparent that he will need it after Adesanya begins to pick him apart.

If we see the version of Adesanya that stunk up the joint against Yoel Romero, he’ll win the range war with his kickboxing and cruise to a decision. But if we see the motivated bruiser from the Paulo Costa fight, he’ll waste no time in working Blachowicz over.

The most likely outcome is we get something in the middle, with Adesanya taking the title with a late-round stoppage, but not without taking a few lumps along the way.

UFC 259 pick: Adesanya