With Jon Jones out of the picture as he attempts to move to heavyweight, the vacant light heavyweight belt was up for grabs on Saturday night at UFC 253. Competing for it was longtime veteran Jan Blachowicz and former title challenger Dominick Reyes.
The tension in the Abu Dhabi arena could be cut with a knife as both fighters sized each other up for much of the first round. Blachowicz was the busier of the two. Despite landing only a few shots, they seemed to leave a mark on Reyes -- especially a powerful kick to the body that left a visible mark on Reyes' side.
Reyes, who actually took Jon Jones to a decision back in February when fighting for the belt, picked up the pace in the second but in doing so opened himself up to Blachowicz's power. The Polish veteran connected with a solid combination that appeared to bust Reyes' nose and then followed with another left hand that wobbled his opponent.
Blachowicz looked to capitalize on his dazed opponent and applied striking pressure as Reyes attempted to cover up on the canvas. Referee Kevin Sataki called a stop to the fight at the 4:36 mark of round two.
Following his impressive win, the newly minted light heavyweight champion called out Jon Jones, who vacated the belt earlier this year in an attempt to move up to the heavyweight division. "Jon Jones, where are you," Blachowicz said after the fight, calling out the former champion. "Don't be a quitter. I am here. This is how we do it in Poland. I'm waiting for you."
Despite Jones' nearly decade run as light heavyweight champion, he never actually met Blachowicz in the Octagon. Reyes was probably Jones' toughest title defense and Blachowicz easily dismantled him. Jones seems committed to moving up to heavyweight, but a return to the division he once dominated for nearly a decade already seems intriguing.