Jan Blachowicz eager to test ‘explosive’ Thiago Santos at UFC Prague: ‘I want to feel his power’

Thiago Santos has marched to sixth place in the UFC’s light heavyweight rankings following two striking stoppages of Eryk Anders and Jimi Manuwa, but his UFC Prague main event dance partner Jan Blachowicz revealed that he is relishing the thoughts of exchanging with the Brazilian.

Speaking on the latest episode of Eurobash, the surging Polish charge admitted that he would have to be cautious against the “explosive” and “dynamic” knockout artist.

“I expect him to be like he always fights…a really explosive, dynamic fighter,” said Blachowicz. “I have to be careful all the time, my hands have to be really high. I have to be careful to look out for his left hook, right hook and of his spinning kicks, but I’m prepared for that.”

Although he knows he has to be careful, Blachowicz revealed that his looking forward to feeling the infamous power of “Marreta” in the Czech capital.

“Of course I want to fight him in stand-up. I want to feel his power, the power of his hands and his kicks. I’m not afraid of his stand up, but I’ve got to be careful all the time. I’m ready for a stand-up fight, I’m ready to take him down, to submit him and to knock him out. I’m also ready for a decision, five-minutes for five rounds,” he said.

With Santos’ reputation for his fast pace in the opening round, Blachowicz believes he can take control of the contest if he makes it out of the first five-minutes.

“I think he will come out powerful in the first round,” he said. “After the first round, he will be slowing down and that starts my game. I will put pressure on him, take him down, fight him in stand-up, everything. But, in the first round, I have to be very careful.”

The Pole sees a submission or decision as his most likely avenues to victory:

“Submission or decision, but also I will be looking for the knockout. I think it will be a submission in the second or third round. If not, maybe a decision.”

Check out the latest episode of Eurobash. The Jan Blachowicz interview begins at 12:00.