UFC on ESPN+ 25 results: Jan Blachowicz flattens Corey Anderson with Jon Jones watching

If you’re going to state your case for a shot at UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, there is no better time to do it than when the champ is sitting right in the front row.

Jan Blachowicz, who has been on the list of contenders at 205 pounds for quite some time but never quite made it to the top, knocked Corey Anderson cold in the opening round of their UFC on ESPN+ 25 main event Saturday night.

With Jones closely watching at Santa Ana Star Center in the Albuquerque suburb of Rio Rancho, N.M., Blachwicz (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) earned the knockout with a wicked right hand at the 3:08 mark.

“I know I am one of the best,” said Blachowicz, who had gestured toward Jones after the fight. “I proved that I am the next contender for a title shot.”

The fight had gotten off to a tentative start in the opening minutes, as both competitors seemed to be trying to figure out their range and settle in for a potential 25-minute battle.

Anderson (13-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) didn’t utilize his wrestling base early. He tried but seemed to hesitate as he shot for a double-leg takedown. Blachowicz responded with a thundering right hand, and Anderson appeared to blow out his knee as he hit the mat. Blachowicz landed a hammer fist to the downed Anderson before referee Herb Dean waved things off.

With the victory, Blachowicz now has won three straight and seven of eight, with three of his past four wins coming by finish. He also avenged a decision loss to Anderson in 2015.

Anderson, for his part, had a four-fight winning streak snapped. Four of his five career losses have come via KO.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 25 results include:

Diego Sanchez def. Michel Pereira via disqualification (illegal knee) – Round 3, 3:09
Montana De La Rosa def. Mara Romero Borella via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Brok Weaver def. Kazula Vargas via disqualification (illegal Knee) – Round 1, 4:02
Ray Borg def. Rogerio Bontorin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)
Lando Vannata def. Yancy Medeiros via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Daniel Rodriguez def. Tim Means via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:37
John Dodson def. Nathaniel Wood via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 0:16
Scott Holtzman def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Devin Clark def. Dequan Townsend via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Merab Dvalishvili def. Casey Kenney via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 29-28)
Macy Chiasson def. Shanna Young via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Raulian Paiva def. Mark De La Rosa via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 4:42