The second bout on UFC 191’s main card is a light-heavyweight contest between Polish standout Jan Blachowicz and Corey “Beastin 25/8” Anderson. Both fighters are trying to get themselves back into the win column after they both lost their last appearance inside the Octagon. Jan Blachowicz (18-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC, -150 favorite) Blachowicz made a name for himself in the KSW promotion, which is based out of Poland. He fought and defeated many former UFC fighters, such as Houston Alexander, Rameau Sokoudjou, Goran Reljic, and Mario Miranda. He compiled an impressive 16-2 record in the promotion, but he failed to finish any of the top fighters he faced before signing with the UFC in 2014. In Jan’s first UFC fight in October of 2014, he defeated Ilir Latifi by first round technical knockout. With an impressive first showing under his belt, he was well on his way with his new promotion. However, that momentum came to a halt when he faced Jimi Manuwa in April. Manuwa outworked and overpowered Blachowicz for three rounds and earned a clear decision on the judge’s scorecards. The 32-year old Blachowicz is a seasoned fighter that can do a bit of everything. However, he is primarily known for his kickboxing. He works good angles and has a really underrated kicking game as well as a jab. However, he does not have much power in his strikes and usually allows his opponents to stick around until the final bell. The Pole also has an underrated wrestling game, as he is adept at timing his opponent’s strikes, ducking under them, and taking them to the mat. From top position he is a decent passer and has a serviceable submission game. One area where Blachowicz can really improve is his pace. He often works at a glacial pace, which is not something that will work at the highest levels of the UFC. Corey Anderson (5-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC, +130 underdog) Anderson rose to fame as a competitor on season 19 of The Ultimate Fighter, which aired last summer. Anderson had the luxury of being the best wrestler on the show, as well as having a large frame for the division. Anderson got to the finals of the show by scoring three wrestling-heavy decisions over inferior competition. However, he made a statement in the finals against Matt Van-Buren, which was his first official UFC fight. Anderson only needed 61 seconds to stop Van-Buren and become the winner of season 19 of The Ultimate Fighter. Since the win over Van-Buren, he has compiled a 1-1 record, with his last outing being a TKO loss to Gian Villante in April. The 25-year old is a lifelong wrestler, though he did not wrestle for a big Division 1 school. Nevertheless, wrestling opened the door for Anderson to try mixed martial arts. His wrestling coach at the time was Ben Askren and Askren ultimately persuaded him to try his hands at fighting. Anderson quickly fell in love with the sport, but he freely admits that striking was the hardest thing for him to learn. He always has his wrestling to fall back on but when that does not work you have to have another plan. That is where Frankie Edgar and Mark Henry really helped him. The former UFC Lightweight Champion and his striking coach helped improve his striking dramatically, though it is still a work in progress. Anderson’s 6’ 3’’ frame and 79” reach were a natural fit for the sport. He has a nice long jab and straight right hand that he uses nicely in combinations. Further, he has solid dirty boxing and knees in the clinch. However, Anderson’s defense was the reason he lost his last fight. He failed to check any leg kicks and was not utilizing proper head movement. That ultimately cost him the fight, as Villante clocked him behind the ear late in the third round and ended the fight. As I mentioned, Anderson is a lifelong wrestler that is known as an extremely hard worker. He often has to be told to go home because he spends so much time at the gym. His wrestling game features solid single and double-leg takedowns, but he does not do much from top position. He is not a slick guard passer or much of a submission threat, but he can hold position well. Another positive aspect of Anderson’s game is his exceptional conditioning, he can go hard for three rounds without a problem. Thoughts This is honestly a tough fight to call. I really did not like what I saw out of Blachowicz in his fight against Manuwa in April. He was far too tentative and could not get himself off the cage. Anderson will be the bigger and stronger fighter in this fight and he will likely look to utilize his wrestling and dirty boxing and knees in the clinch. Anderson will not want to get in a kickboxing match with Blachowicz; that is not a fight he will likely win. However, I have to think Anderson’s coaches, who are some of the best in the business, have devised a smart game plan for this fight. Given how tentative Blachowicz can be, I am going to side with Anderson just for being the busier and more aggressive fighter. The Prediction: Corey Anderson defeats Jan Blachowicz by unanimous decision
