Jan Blachowicz wrote the playbook.
Last year about this time, when Israel Adesanya paused his dismantling of the UFC middleweight division to try his luck at light heavyweight, Blachowicz was there to welcome him. Then the champ at 205 pounds, Blachowicz used well-timed takedowns, sheer bulk and the threat of his curtain-closing power to keep Adesanya under control long enough to hand the middleweight champ his first loss in pro MMA.
The playbook was there for all to see, but Robert Whittaker reminded us all Saturday night that drawing it up is only step one.