UFC 267 – Preview: Blachowicz defends against Teixeira

Touching down on Fight Island for the first time in over 9 months, the UFC will return to Abu Dhabi for UFC 267, a monumental card that’s set to be one of the biggest of the year.

In the main event, reigning 205lb champion Jan Blachowicz will look to turn back surging veteran Glover Teixiera in his second title defense. The co-main event will see a champion crowned, as the interim bantamweight title will be on the line when former titleholder Petr Yan faces top contender Cory Sandhagen.

Let’s take a closer look at the card!

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(c) Jan Blachowicz (28-8) vs (#1) Glover Teixiera (32-7) – UFC light-heavyweight championship bout

Looking to taste gold for the first time in his storied career, Brazil’s Glover Teixiera must try to take the gold from around the waste of Poland’s Prince Jan Blachowicz.

Upsetting the odds against Israel Adesanya, light-heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz proved himself to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. His well-rounded mix of smothering grappling, deceptively fast kicks and his ‘legendary Polish power’ make him a nightmare for anyone to fight. Should he collect another title defense to his name on Saturday, Blachowicz will continue to cement himself as one of the best of his era.

With a career resurgence not dissimilar to the champ’s, Glover Teixiera made himself the clear number one contender at 205lbs with a stoppage of Thiago Santos. Having won his last 5 with 4 finishes, the Brazilian is seemingly primed and focused to finally capture a UFC title after 9 years. Turning 42 just prior to the event, with a win, Teixiera will be one of the oldest champions in UFC history.

(#1) Petr Yan (15-2) vs (#3) Cory Sandhagen (14-3) – interim UFC bantamweight championship bout

With champion Aljamain Sterling on the sidelines due to not being medically declared fit, Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen will duke it out for the right to be called interim bantamweight champion.

Though his DQ loss to Sterling cost him his title, the large majority of MMA fans still view Petr Yan as the best 135lb fighter in the UFC. ‘No Mercy’ combines a background in amateur boxing with tricky takedowns and unbreakable cardio to wear his opponents down. A win on Saturday will place a belt around his waste for the second time, a status that many believe he still deserves.

Dropping a highly-controversial split decision decision TJ Dillashaw in July, Cory Sandhagen stayed in shape in case opportunity struck in his favour. Luckily for ‘The Sandman’, he gets the chance to step in and display his world-class striking once again this weekend. Team Elevation’s Sandhagen will have to bring his A game if he wants to leave with gold, but he’s highly confident that he can get the job done in style.

(#5) Islam Makhachev (20-1) vs (#6) Dan Hooker (21-10) – lightweight bout

Stepping up to the plate on short notice, Dan Hooker will look to kill the hype of the ascending Islam Makhachev.

Described by many as the second coming of Khabib Nurmagomedov, the lightweight division has been put on notice by Islam Makhachev. The Dagestani’s relentless grappling pressure and pace have seen him dominate all but one bout in his 21 fight career. Now sitting at #4 in the rankings, a victory on at UFC 267 could mean a title opportunity for Makhachev.

One of the most universally beloved fighters in MMA today, Dan Hooker didn’t hesitate to accept the chance to fight Makhachev… just 3 days after dominating Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266. Displaying improved wrestling chops in that bout, the Kiwi is determined to put his best foot forward to derail his opponent on October 30th. A single well-timed knee up the middle from ‘The Hangman’ could make it a short night, while placing him back in the top 5 at 155lbs.

(#5) Alexander Volkov (33-9) vs (#9) Marcin Tybura (22-6) – heavyweight bout

Heavyweight staples Alexander Volkov and Marcin Tybura will square off in the hopes of continuing their climb up the ladder.

Despite losses to Curtis Blaydes and Ciryl Gane, Russia’s Alexander Volkov remains one of heavyweight’s most talented competitors. Standing at 6’7″, the kickboxing uses his size and stature to pick his opponents apart from a distance. With the ability to draw out a win over 15 and to end the fight by KO, ‘Drago’ has plenty of ways to pick up another win.

Written off by most after a 1-4 run between 2017 and 2019, Poland’s Marcin Tybura has been on the comeback trail since 2020. Riding a 5 fighting streak with two straight finishes, Tybura looks likes he could be a strong force in the upper echelons of the heavyweight division. A win on Saturday at UFC 267 will place him firmly into the title discussion for 2022.

(#11) Li Jingliang (18-6) vs Khamzat Chimaev (9-0) – welterweight bout

Returning after a 13 month hiatus, Chechan star Khamzat Chimaev will look to smash his way into the welterweight top 15 when he fights hard-hitting Li Jingliang.

Having gone 8-2 in his last 10, China’s Li Jingliang has established himself as a force to be reckoned at 170lbs. With heavy hands and an improving ground game, he has shown that he can put the lights out of anyone on his best nights. With an upset win over Santiago Ponzinibbio earlier this year, ‘The Leech’ is looking to make it 2-0 against returning fan favourites in 2021.

Making UFC history in 2020 with three finishes in the span of 66 days, Khamzat Chimaev remains one of MMA’s brightest prospects. One-shot knockout power added to an already scary ground game that has seen John Phillips, Rhys McKee and Gerald Meerschaert land a combined 2 strikes. Finally medically cleared to return, ‘Borz’ is on a warpath to UFC gold.

(#7) Magomed Ankalaev (15-1) vs (#8) Volkan Oezdemir (17-5) – light-heavyweight bout

A crucial light-heavyweight matchup between Magomed Ankalaev and Volkan Oezdemir will open up UFC 267’s main card.

As one of the best prospects that light-heavyweight has seen in years, Magomed Ankalaev has won 6 straight with four knockouts. The Russian’s only UFC stumble came to Paul Craig, but has since beaten the likes of Ion Cutelaba and Nikita Krylov. As dangerous on the mat as he is on the feet, all 205lb fighters have to be weary of Ankalaev.

A former title challenger that has fallen on hard times, Volkan Oezdemir still has title aspirations for the future. The Switzerland native remains one of the hardest hitters at light-heavyweight, along with professional kickboxing experience. A win over Ankalaev at UFC 267 could easily place Oezdemir back in a contender position.

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Which fight are you most excited for? Which one is flying under the radar? Let us know in the comments!