Jan Blachowicz on ‘2nd league’ fighter Corey Anderson claiming he’s best light heavyweight: ‘Maybe I’ve punched him too hard’

UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz has responded to Corey Anderson’s claims that the latter is the best 205-pounder in the world.

Anderson earned a title shot, and a spot in the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix finals with a 51 second TKO win over Ryan Bader this past Saturday in the co-main event of Bellator 268. He will now challenge Vadim Nemkov — who was also victorious via fourth-round submission of Julius Anglickas on Saturday — for the title sometime in 2022.

Following the event, Bellator president Scott Coker felt strongly that the grand prix winner will be the best 205er on the planet, while Anderson already feels like he has that spot. Blachowicz, who is 1-1 in two fights with Anderson, including a first-round KO win in their most recent meeting in February 2020, does not agree with “Overtime.”

Anderson would part ways with the UFC and sign with Bellator following the loss, while Blachowicz went on to capture and defend the UFC light heavyweight titles with victories over Dominick Reyes and Israel Adesanya.

Following Blachowicz’s response, Anderson had one of his own — this time, reminding Blachowicz of their first meeting, an Anderson unanimous decision win at UFC 191.

Throughout the Bellator 268 fight week, including in a conversation with MMA Fighting, Anderson predicted that Blachowicz will lose his title to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267 later this month.