Poland’s second-ever UFC champion won’t forget his welcome home in a hurry.

Jan Blachowicz confounded the bookies’ expectations by defeating Dominick Reyes by second round TKO in Abu Dhabi in the UFC 253 co-main event to claim the UFC’s vacant light heavyweight title. In doing so, the Pole becomes the first fighter outside of Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier to hold the championship title in almost a decade.

And an achievement as significant as this was honoured by some of Poland’s mixed martial arts fans, as they assembled at an airport arrivals hall to welcome their hero home after his title win.

Wejście smoka @JanBlachowicz❗😍 Zaskoczył wszystkich #LegendaryPolishPower pic.twitter.com/LJGH37tWBq

— TVP SPORT (@sport_tvppl) September 28, 2020

 

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AND THE NEW❗️ @janblachowicz – Ladies and Gentleman🤩 Congrats!🌟 Great fight @domreyes24 ✊🏼 #ufc253 #andnew

A post shared by Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannajedrzejczyk) on Sep 26, 2020 at 9:24pm PDT

The only other Pole to hold UFC gold, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, also recognised Blachowicz’s achievement on social media.

“F*ck yeah, the new champ ladies and gentlemen!” she said after a brief into in Polish. “F*ck yeah, Jan Blachowicz! Legend, legend!”