Michael Bisping gives Jan Blachowicz the edge over Magomed Ankalaev on the feet.
Blachowicz (29-9 MMA, 12-6 UFC) meets Ankalaev (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) for the vacant light heavyweight title in the UFC 282 headliner Dec. 10 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ankalaev has 10 knockouts on his resume, including stoppages of Ion Cutelaba and Anthony Smith. But going up against Blachowicz’s “legendary Polish power,” Bisping sees Ankalaev’s route to victory on the ground.
“I feel like Jan Blachowicz, if he can stop the takedown, the fight is going to be in his favor – but it’s going to be hard,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “Magomed, he’s a Dagestani. He’s a master of the sport in sambo. Regardless, the takedowns are going to be absolutely key. Not to say Magomed can’t strike, but Blachowicz is very good on the feet. He’s got the bigger power.
“It all comes down to whether or not Blachowicz can keep it on the feet. If he can, I can see a knockout victory for Jan Blachowicz – or Magomed is going to take him down, try and outwrestle him.”
According to to DraftKings sportsbook, Ankalaev is a -240 betting favorite. Blachowicz lost his light heavyweight title to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267 when he was dominated on the ground and submitted, but since has rebounded with a TKO win over Aleksandar Rakic.
Blachowicz’s bout with Ankalaev originally was a non-title co-main event. But after light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka vacated his belt ahead of his title fight rematch against Teixeira due to a severe shoulder injury, the promotion opted to make their fight for the vacant belt.
Teixeira was meant to keep his spot in the title fight, but asked for more time to prepare for Ankalaev. With the UFC insisting on a title fight for its final pay-per-view card of the year, Teixeira didn’t get his wish, but now is eyeing the winner of Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev.
