A rematch no one asked for turned into a bloody, entertaining war between Jan Blachowicz and Jimi Manuwa at UFC London.
At the O2 Arena on Saturday, the UFC hosted a four-fight main card that opened slow, but picked up as the evening progressed. The penultimate fight was a perfect exmaple. UFC London’s co-main event was a rematch of the 2015 scrap between Jimi Manuwa and Jan Blachowicz. With their original fight ending in a decision win for Manuwa, Poland’s Blachowicz was looking to even the score. It was a rematch no one really asked for. But what do the critics know? What we got in the end was a rather bloody, entertaining affair.
Manuwa said “hello” with a kick almost immediately after the fight got underway. Blachowicz took a more reserved approach, chopping at his opponent’s lead leg. It was the Polish fighter on the outside, circling, while Manuwa walked him down. Another high kick by Manuwa sent Blachowicz stumbling back; he got his footing back and threw a kick of his own to the body. Manuwa began switching from the body to the leg with his kicks, while Blachowicz fired back with left hands. Then, the Polish fighter clipped Wanuwa! Manuwa was dropped! Blachowicz swarmed. Jimi Manuwa, bloodied, somehow got back to his feet. He’d take some more punishment from Jan Blachowicz, but despite his nose leaking blood, he managed to tie up his opponent, buying time. Off the break he ate another punch, and as he moved forward, he took more strikes from Blachowicz.
Having somehow survived round one, Jimi Manuwa tread lightly in the second. He landed a left hook on Blachowicz, only for Blachowicz to answer back, stunning him. Manuwa was bleeding like a horror movie victim, coating his opponent in blood as they clinched. Blachowicz would manage to take the back along the fence as the pair went down, but wet with blood and sweat Manuwa escaped. Manuwa still showed flashes of power; Jan Blachowicz wisely changed levels whenever Jimi felt the urge to launch a bomb. A Manuwa leg kick took the pep out of Blachowicz’s step; he stayed up, but was certainly moving slower. A massive head kick by Manuwa seemingly landed clean only for Blachowicz to shake it off, and against all odds the co-main event went to a third round.
The third round opened with a little game of “stand and trade” with both fighters landing. A rematch that no one had asked for was absolutely tearing down the house. Both men were tired, but still game. Blachowicz was getting off more volume; Manuwa was looking for a home run, and adding in high kicks in search of a finish. Blachowicz was able to double up his jab, creating space and keeping out of danger, for the most part. With a final burst of energy, Jan Blachowicz took Manuwa down, and finished the fight on top and in control. A heck of a war from both men, but Poland’s Jan Blachowicz clearly had the edge!
Jan Blachowicz def. Jimi Manuwa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
