Jan Blachowicz
Active 2015–present · rated in 5 editions · peak overall 91.0
Scouting report
Jan Blachowicz captured the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship with a second-round knockout of Dominick Reyes at UFC 253. Hailing from Cieszyn, Poland, Blachowicz defended his crown by handing Israel Adesanya his first career defeat at UFC 259, his balanced attack backed by a 90 Boxing rating, 88 Kickboxing, and 91 Overall score.
Peak ratings
By edition
Blachowicz rebounded from early promotional struggles to launch his championship resurgence in late 2017, submitting Devin Clark with a rear-naked choke in Gdansk, Poland, and outworking Jared Cannonier in Winnipeg. His power, heavy kicks, and submission defense are reflected in an 84 Boxing and 83 Kickboxing.
Blachowicz went on a surge from 2018 to 2019, defeating Jimi Manuwa in London, submitting Nikita Krylov in Moscow, losing by TKO to Thiago Santos in Prague, knocking out former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in round two at UFC 239 in Las Vegas, and defeating Ronaldo Souza in Sao Paulo. His counter-striking and defensive wrestling anchor his 87 Boxing and 80 Wrestling.
Blachowicz achieved championship status across 2020 and 2021, knocking out Corey Anderson in round one, flattening Dominick Reyes at UFC 253 on Fight Island to capture the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, and handing middleweight champion Israel Adesanya his first career defeat at UFC 259 in Las Vegas. His power boxing and tactical wrestling justify his 90 Boxing and 86 Wrestling.
After dropping the belt to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267, Blachowicz defeated Aleksandar Rakic via knee injury TKO, fought Magomed Ankalaev to a split draw for the vacant title at UFC 282 in Las Vegas, and pushed Alex Pereira to a close split decision at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City. His body kicks and durability anchor his 89 Boxing and 87 Durability.
Jan Blachowicz, the late-blooming champion from Cieszyn
Jan Blachowicz grew up in Cieszyn, Poland, and started with judo at nine before adding grappling and Muay Thai, where he collected 34 wins. He became KSW light heavyweight champion at home, then signed with the big American promotion in 2014 and stopped Ilir Latifi in round one of his debut. The next stretch was bumpy, with decision losses to Jimi Manuwa, Corey Anderson, Alexander Gustafsson and Patrick Cummins. He rebuilt through finishes over Devin Clark, Nikita Krylov, Luke Rockhold and Anderson, then won the vacant title by stopping Dominick Reyes in September 2020.
Blachowicz rating by rating
Boxing. Tied for his best mark. His punches ended the Rockhold fight in round two in 2019 and the Anderson rematch in round one in 2020.
Kickboxing. Muay Thai training runs through his stand-up, and the Rockhold knockout came from a striking exchange.
Wrestling. Solid rather than dominant. Cummins wrestled him in 2017 and took a majority decision.
BJJ. Competition-tested. He won Polish jiu-jitsu titles in 2005 and 2007, and he finished Clark with a rear-naked choke and Krylov with an arm-triangle.
Strength. Tied for his best. He carried the size and power to take the belt at 205 pounds.
Durability. Thiago Santos stopped him in round three in 2019, the first time strikes had ever finished him, and he rebounded with the Rockhold win.
Cardio. Good over five rounds, though the Cummins loss came with a fade after a strong first round.
Fight IQ. Tied for his best. He turned a run of decision losses into a title reign and beat Israel Adesanya by decision in 2021.
Three-way tie at the top: Boxing, Strength and Fight IQ
His best numbers all sit at 90, and the record fits a fighter who wins by being hard to solve. He beat Adesanya by decision in March 2021, the first man to beat Adesanya in the promotion. Add a reputation for coming back from setbacks, and you have a steady closer who rarely beats himself.
The relative soft spot: BJJ at 85
Even his lowest rating is high, so this is a narrow gap. Glover Teixeira caught him with a rear-naked choke in round two in October 2021 and took the belt. Against a heavy top-game grappler, ground defense is where the fight will turn.
Keep exploring
Closest light heavyweight profiles to Jan Blachowicz, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Magomed Ankalaevbest wrestling 92 · weakest bjj 82
- Aleksandar Rakicbest strength 89 · weakest bjj 78
- Alexander Gustafssonbest boxing 90 · weakest bjj 78
- Jiri Prochazkabest boxing 92 · weakest bjj 80
- Light Heavyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Jan Blachowicz's strongest attribute, Boxing.
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Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Jan Blachowicz is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Jan Blachowicz's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.