Seven years after his previous title fight, Glover Teixeira will get another chance to become champion Saturday when facing UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz. Their fight headlines UFC 267, a stacked lineup that also includes a bantamweight title bout in the co-main event.
All of the action is set to go down at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Follow along throughout the day for updates on the event.
A preview of the card can be read here.
Live Coverage:
Preliminary Card (10:30AM EDT / 6:30PM GST) (ESPN+ / TSN 5)
Bout 1: Tagir Ulanbekov def. Allan Nascimento via Decision, Split
Bout 2: Andre Petroski def. Hu Yaozong via Submission, Arm Triangle Choke (RD 3, 4:46)
Bout 3: Lerone Murphy def. Makwan Amirkhani via TKO, Strikes (RD 2, 0:14)
Bout 4: Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Shamil Gamzatov via TKO, Strikes (RD 1, 3:31)
Bout 5: Elizeu Zaleski def. Benoit Saint-Denisvia Decision, Unanimous
Bout 6: Albert Duraev def. Roman Kopylov via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 7: Zubaira Tukhugov def. Ricardo Ramos via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 8: Amanda Ribas def. Virna Jandiroba via Decision, Unanimous
Main Card (2:00PM EDT / 10:00PM GST) (ESPN+ / PPV In Canada)
Bout 9: Magomed Ankalaev def. Volkan Oezdemir via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 10: Khamzat Chimaev def. Li Jingliang via Submission, Rear Naked Choke (RD 1, 3:16)
Bout 11: Alexander Volkov def. Marcin Tybura via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 12: Islam Makhachev def. Dan Hooker via Submission, Kimura (RD 1, 2:25)
Live Coverage:
Bout 14: Jan Blachowicz (28-8) vs. Glover Teixeira (32-7) (UFC Light Heavyweight Championship)
Veteran Teixeira Takes UFC Championship With Early Submission Win
Glover Teixeira’s grappling skills prevailed yet again Saturday, as he defeated Jan Blachowicz with a second-round rear naked choke to become the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Teixeira was able to get Blachowicz to the ground in both rounds, eventually securing a choke to finish the fight.
Teixeira won a fairly inactive opening round, taking Blachowicz down and holding full guard for most of the time.
Blachowicz tried to keep the fight standing in the second round, using the opportunity to land combinations of punches on the feet. While some takedown attempts were resisted, Teixeira eventually got the fight to the ground.
Teixeira moved into the full mount on the ground this time, eventually taking the back of Blachowicz and applying a rear naked choke for the win.
Teixeira, 42, is now a UFC champion for the first time since joining the promotion in 2012. He had previously challenged for the belt in 2014, losing to then-champ Jon Jones.
Teixeira made himself an unavoidable contender for the belt over the past two years, attaining five consecutive wins. This streak included two main event victories last year, where he stopped Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos.
Blachowicz’s reign as champ has come to an end after just over a year. He first claimed the title in September, defeating Dominick Reyes to take the vacant belt.
He defended the belt for the first time in March, defeating UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya.
Bout 13: Petr Yan (15-2) vs. Cory Sandhagen (14-3) (Vacant Interim UFC Bantamweight Championship)
Yan Reclaims Champion Status, Goes Five Rounds Against Sandhagen For Interim Belt
Petr Yan prevailed in a technical striking battle against Cory Sandhagen to win via unanimous decision and claim the interim UFC Bantamweight Championship (49-46, 49-46 & 49-46).
Yan’s victory saw him lose a round early before picking up his striking and having a comfortable lead in the end.
Sandhagen had a good opening round against a slow-starting Yan. The volume of Sandhagen’s punches secured him at least the first round, with the second round being somewhat closer and hard to score.
The powerful shots of Yan started to show up more in the second and third rounds. Sandhagen found himself in trouble late in the third round, getting dropped by a spinning backfist. Following the knockdown, Yan landed some ground and pound shots before the bantamweights engaged in a scramble to finish the round.
While Sandhagen remained in the fight during the championship rounds, the striking from Yan continued to advance his lead in the fight.
Yan is now a two-time champion. He dropped the UFC Bantamweight Championship in a controversial fashion earlier this year, as an illegal knee to Aljamain Sterling in March forced him to lose via disqualification.
Yan was set to face Sterling in a rematch on this card, but he was given Sandhagen and an interim title fight after Sterling had to withdraw from the card.
Yan had won all seven of his previous UFC fights before the loss earlier this year.
Sandhagen was coming back after losing a close split decision to TJ Dillashaw in July. He had earned two high-profile stoppage wins before then, defeating Marlon Moraes and Frankie Edgar.
Bout 12: Islam Makhachev (20-1) vs. Dan Hooker (21-10) (Lightweight)
Makhachev Submits Hooker Early, Moves Winning Streak To Nine Consecutive
Islam Makhachev’s winning streak picked up another significant win Saturday, submitting Dan Hooker in the opening round via kimura.
Makachev took Hooker down early in the fight. After moving into side control, Makhachev secured a kimura submission to earn the tap.
Makhachev called for a lightweight title fight after his win.
Makhachev’s lightweight winning streak is nine consecutive bouts. He earned his first UFC main event win in July, submitting Thiago Moises in the fourth round of a fight.
Hooker took the fight on short notice, stepping in on a month’s notice to replace Rafael dos Anjos. He competed at UFC’s previous numbered event, ending a two-fight skid with a decision victory over Nasrat Haqparast.
Bout 11: Alexander Volkov (33-9) vs. Marcin Tybura (22-6) (Heavyweight)
Volkov Ends Momentum of Tybura With Scorecard Victory
Veteran Alexander Volkov put an end to the winning streak of Marcin Tybura, defeating him via unanimous decision on Saturday (30-27, 30-27 & 29-28).
Volkov’s ability to land strikes and shut down more than a dozen takedown attempts from Tybura scored him the win. Tybura was able to compete with him on the feet, but it was the combinations of Volkov that gave him the win.
The victory for Volkov put him back into the win column. He lost a five-round main event in June when he faced undefeated heavyweight Ciryl Gane.
Tybura was on a strong five-fight streak of wins heading into the card. He picked up a big win in his prior bout, stopping Walt Harris within a round in June.
Bout 10: Li Jingliang (18-6) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (9-0) (Welterweight)
Chimaev Continues Dominance In Return, Submits Li In First Round
Khamzat Chimaev had a quick win in his MMA return, submitting Li Jingliang in the first round with a rear naked choke.
Chimaev took Li down in the first minute, immediately taking his back on the ground. Chimaev unloaded with a long series of ground and pound shots from the back that nearly finished the fight.
Chimaev eventually gave up on the punches, instead switching to looking for a rear naked choke. Li was able to fight off the choke for a little, although it was eventually locked in and put him to sleep.
Chimaev was appearing for the first time after a retirement scare earlier this year. The undefeated prospect had announced his retirement in March, seemingly putting an end to what was a quick rise up the UFC roster.
Chimaev had struggled in early 2021 with COVID-19, with the long-term problems from getting the virus hurting his training and forcing him out of a fight against Leon Edwards.
Chimaev, 27, was one of the fastest-rising fighters in 2020, scoring three stoppage wins within a three-month period in 2020.
Li was coming off a first-round finish victory that he scored over Santiago Ponzinibbio in January.
Bout 9: Magomed Ankalaev (15-1) vs. Volkan Oezdemir (17-5) (Light Heavyweight)
Ankalaev Advances Winning Streak To Seven Consecutive With Win Over Oezdemir
Magomed Ankalaev continued his climb up the light heavyweight division in the opening bout of the main card, securing a unanimous decision win against veteran Volkan Oezdemir (30-27, 30-27 & 29-28).
Ankalaev had the better striking in the fight, out-landing Oezdemir with punches. He caused a brutal cut near the left eyebrow of Oezdemir in the second round, although it didn’t threaten the end of the fight at any point.
Ankalaev’s momentum at light heavyweight continues to grow. He now has seven consecutive wins in the weight class in a streak that dates back to 2018.
Oezdemir was appearing for the first time in over a year. He suffered a stoppage loss in his previous showing, getting finished by Jiri Prochazka in July 2020.
Bout 8: Amanda Ribas (10-2) vs. Virna Jandiroba (17-2) (Strawweight)
Ribas Utilizes Striking For Win Against Jandiroba
Amanda Ribas bounced back from her sole UFC loss in the final prelim, using striking to defeat Virna Jandiroba via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28 & 29-28).
In a matchup between two grapplers, Ribas kept it on the feet where she was the much better striker. She out-landed Jandiroba for most of the fight, carrying her to a win on the scorecards.
Ribas had a four-fight winning streak snapped early this year, losing a fight to Marina Rodriguez.
Jandiroba was coming off a win, having defeated former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion Kanako Murata in June.
Bout 7: Zubaira Tukhugov (19-5-1) vs. Ricardo Ramos (15-3) (Featherweight)
Tukhugov Takes Decision Win Over Ramos
Zubaira Tukhugov had a successful return to action Saturday, picking up a unanimous decision win over Ricardo Ramos (29-28, 29-28 & 29-28).
Tukhugov and Ramos engaged in a close three-round battle that was strictly on the feet. They both landed at a high rate throughout, although it was Tukhugov who got the better shots in.
Ramos was able to score with a flashy blow early in the fight, hurting Tukhugov in the first round with a spinning back elbow.
Tukhugov took a loss in his previous fight, dropping a split decision to Hakeem Dawodu in September 2020.
Ramos was coming off a win he earned over Bill Algeo in May.
Bout 6: Albert Duraev (14-3) vs. Roman Kopylov (8-1) (Middleweight)
Duraev Earns Hard-Fought Victory In UFC Debut
Albert Duraev succeeded in his UFC debut, earning a tough unanimous decision win over the returning Roman Kopylov (30-27, 29-27 & 29-27).
After a close first round, Duraev had a dominant performance in the second round that gave him a clear lead. While he was dropped by a left cross to open the round, he ended up scoring a takedown later and doing significant damage with strikes from full mount.
A cut-up Kopylov remained active in the third round, securing a takedown late in the round. Damage to Duraev’s face became visible as well in this round, with significant swelling being seen around one of his eyes.
Duraev earned his UFC contract just last month, submitting Caio Bittencourt on “Dana White’s Contender Series.”
Kopylov was returning to action after nearly two years outside of the cage. He lost his UFC debut last time around, getting stopped by Karl Roberson in 2019.
Bout 5: Elizeu Zaleski (22-7) vs. Benoit Saint-Denis (8-0) (Welterweight)
Zaleski Puts Beating on Saint-Denis In Oddly Officiated Bout
Poor refereeing caused a dominant win for Elizeu Zaleski to go the distance, giving him a lopsided unanimous decision win over Benoit Saint-Denis (29-26, 29-26 & 29-26).
Zaleski had significantly hurt Saint-Denis in the second and third rounds, rocking him numerous times with strikes during sequences. Damage on the face of Saint-Denis looked bad by the end of the second round, as bruising and bleeding were greatly visible.
The official UFC broadcast started to scrutinize referee Vyacheslav Kiselev during the second round due to him not stepping in and ending the fight. At one point the broadcast trio feared for his return on the main card, as he is scheduled to oversee a fight between Magomed Ankalaev and Volkan Oezdemir.
It was later announced on the broadcast that Kiselev would not in fact return to referee on the card.
The scorecards from judges reflect that Zaleski had won all three rounds, also taking two more points due to the level at which he dominated some frames.
The sole point taken away from Zaleski in the third round due to accidental fouls committed.
The fight put Zaleski back into the win column. His last fight was a year ago, losing a split decision to Muslim Salikhov.
Saint-Denis was appearing in the UFC roster for the first time. He entered with an undefeated record of eight wins, including four in Brave CF.
Bout 4: Michal Oleksiejczuk (15-4) vs. Shamil Gamzatov (14-0) (Light Heavyweight)
Oleksiejczuk Scores First-Round Win, Hands Gamzatov First Loss
Michal Oleksiejczuk concluded the lengthy undefeated record of Shamil Gamzatov Saturday, finishing him in the first round with strikes.
Oleksiejczuk’s striking was successful throughout the sole round of action, scoring hard blows on the feet. Gamzatov looked visibly uncomfortable in stand-up exchanges, consuming blows and getting fatigued quite early into the battle.
A punch from Oleksiejczuk eventually made Gamzatov crumble in the fourth minute, forcing the bout to end just moments after.
Gamzatov entered the weekend with an undefeated record of 14 wins. This included his UFC debut, which came against Klidson Abreu in 2019.
Oleksiejczuk is now on a two-fight winning streak. He earned a win earlier this year as well, defeating Modestas Bukauskas via split decision in March.
Bout 3: Makwan Amirkhani (16-6) vs. Lerone Murphy (10-0-1) (Featherweight)
Murphy Remains Undefeated With Knee KO
Lerone Murphy scored a sudden knockout on Saturday’s prelims, catching veteran Makwan Amirkhani just moments into the second round with a knee to the head.
Murphy knocked Amirkhani out with the knee, perfectly timing it as Amirkhani went in for a takedown attempt.
Amirkhani was down for numerous minutes after the stoppage, eventually getting up and sitting on a stool in the cage.
Amirkhani had succeeded in the first round, taking Murphy down in the opening minute and dominating him with wrestling for the rest of the round.
Murphy, an undefeated featherweight, has now scored three consecutive wins in the UFC. His previous bout was in January, defeating Douglas Silva de Andrade on scorecards.
Amirkhani is now on a three-fight losing streak. Previous losses in the skid came against Edson Barboza and Kamuela Kirk.
Bout 2: Hu Yaozong (3-2) vs. Andre Petroski (6-1) (Middleweight)
Petroski Secures Late Arm Triangle Choke Sub Over Returning Hu
Andre Petroski had a hard-fought victory against tough middleweight Hu Yaozong, attempting numerous submissions before finally finishing the bout late with an arm triangle choke.
It became clear early on that Petroski was the better fighter. He took Hu down often, frequently searching for submissions on the ground. When on the feet, Petroski was also landing damaging blows at a high frequency.
Petroski finally put the fight away in the final minute of action, moving into side control while holding an arm triangle choke on Hu.
Hu was coming back after an extensive layoff from competition, with his last fight dating back to 2018. He had previously fought twice in the UFC, losing in both instances.
Petroski fought on Season 28 of “The Ultimate Fighter” earlier this year, getting eliminated in the semi-finals of the show.
He won his UFC debut in August, scoring a submission win over Michael Gillmore.
Bout 1: Tagir Ulanbekov (12-1) vs. Allan Nascimento (18-5) (Flyweight)
Ulanbekov Sneaks By With Split Decision Win Against Newcomer Nascimento
Tagir Ulanbekov picked up his second UFC win to open the main card, defeating Allan Nascimento in a close split decision result (29-28 Nascimento, 29-28 Ulanbekov & 29-28 Ulanbekov).
Ulanbekov’s win came after three rounds of ground control. He scored a takedown in every round, using those positions to earn numerous minutes of control time in full guard positions.
Nascimento made this fight a tough one to score, as he was active in every frame with submission attempts from his back. He threatened Ulanbekov with numerous holds, including an armbar, guillotine choke and kimura.
Ulanbekov didn’t look for submissions on the ground, although he was able to land with some ground and pound shots from the position.
Ulanbekov won his UFC debut last year, defeating Bruno Silva via unanimous decision.
Nascimento was making his UFC debut. He was getting the UFC call-up with an experienced MMA record of over 20 fights.
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