Mixed Martial Arts-Blachowicz edges Adesanya to retain UFC crown

March 7 (Reuters) - Jan Blachowicz bounced back from a slow
start to outpoint Israel Adesanya and retain his
light-heavyweight title after an enthralling tactical battle at
UFC 259 in Las Vegas on Saturday.
In the co-main event, Amanda Nunes blasted Megan Anderson en
route to an easy first-round submission win to defend her
featherweight title, and Petr Yan lost his bantamweight belt to
Aljamain Sterling when he was disqualified for an illegal knee.
Despite holding the belt, Poland's Blachowicz came into the
fight as the underdog, and Adesanya's slick movement and
striking had him in control for much of the first three rounds.
However, Blachowicz turned the tide in the final two frames,
taking the previously undefeated Nigerian, who was seeking to
add the light-heavyweight belt to his middleweight title, to the
mat and controlling him with ease.
"Now I think I deserve some respect. I'm the true champion
right now," a triumphant Blachowicz said after the fight.
In the co-main event, Brazil's Nunes needed just over two
minutes to dismiss her opponent, rocking Anderson early with
some powerful right hands before taking the fight to the ground
and securing the win with an armbar.
The win was the 12th in a row for the 32-year-old, who also
holds the UFC's bantamweight title, and her ninth straight
victory in a title fight, with her last loss coming to Cat
Zingano in September 2014.
In the bantamweight title bout, Aljamain Sterling became the
first UFC fighter to be crowned champion via disqualification
when Yan struck him with an illegal knee to the head in the
fourth round.
Ahead on two of the three judges' scorecards in the
five-round fight, Russian Yan appeared to ask his corner before
kneeing the downed Sterling. Sterling was unable to continue and
Yan was disqualified, losing his title.