The UFC makes its latest stop in Abu Dhabi this month, with a UFC 267 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island that includes two title bouts. Here’s the lowdown.
What is UFC 267?
The latest pay-per-view event from the world’s lead mixed martial arts organisation. UFC 267 is topped by Jan Blachowicz’s light-heavyweight title defence against Glover Teixeira, the No 1-ranked contender. In the night’s other championship clash, former bantamweight belt-holder Petr Yan takes on Cory Sandhagen, a late replacement for current champion Aljamain Sterling, in an interim title fight. UFC 267 marks the conclusion to the second Abu Dhabi Showdown Week.
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UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz speaks to reporters at Hilton Hotel, Yas Island, about his upcoming bout against Glover Teixeira in the headline bout at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi. All photos Chris Whiteoak / The National -
UFC light heavyweight challenger Glover Teixeira. -
UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz leaves the press conference at Hilton Hotel, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. -
UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz. -
Glover Teixeira will face UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in the headline event at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi on October 30. -
Jan Blachowicz speaks to the media. -
Li Jingliang speaks to the press ahead of his welterweight bout against Khamzat Chimaev. -
UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev. -
Cory Sandhagen speaks to reporters at Hilton Hotel, Yas Island, about his upcoming UFC interim bantamweight title fight against Petr Yan at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi. Photos by Christ Whiteoak / The National -
Petr Yan faces Corey Sandhagen in the co-main event. -
UFC bantamweight Cory Sandhagen. -
Magomed Ankalaev will take on Volkan Oezdemir in a light heavyweight bout at UFC 267. -
Cory Sandhagen speaks to the press at Hilton Hotel, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. -
UFC heavyweight fighter Marcin Tybura speaks to the press before UFC 267. -
Khamzat Chimaev makes his return to the octagon on Saturday at UFC 267. -
UFC light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev. -
UFC heavyweight Marcin Tybura. -
Dan Hooker will face Islam Mackhachevat UFC 267 in a lightweight bout. -
Amanda Ribas takes on Virna Jandiroba in a women's strawweight bout at UFC 267. -
UFC bantamweight Alexander Volkov speaks to the press before UFC 267.
When is it?
Saturday October 30. The prelims kick off at 6.30pm, with the main card at 10pm UAE.
Where is it?
Etihad Arena. The arena opened officially with UFC in January, the promotion’s third Fight Island series in the capital.
Who’s fighting?
The extended main card features six bouts. As said, Blachowicz’s second title defence headlines, with the powerful Pole looking to keep hold of the belt he captured last September against Dominick Reyes at UFC 253, also in Abu Dhabi. Blachowicz, who has since defended successfully against middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, takes on the extremely durable Teixeira, who sits as the division’s top-ranked challenger.
That clash follows the bantamweight interim title bout between Yan and Sandhagen. Yan had originally been slated to face Sterling in a rematch of their March encounter, when the American was awarded the belt after Yan was disqualified for an intentional illegal knee. However, Sterling was forced to pull out as he continues his recovery from neck surgery. Thus, No 3-ranked contender Sandhagen stepped in on short notice. Both Yan and Sandhagen have previously competed in Abu Dhabi.
Elsewhere on the card, Islam Makhachev goes up against Dan Hooker in a hugely anticipated bout, which also features a late stand-in. Makhachev, who rides an eight-fight win streak, was scheduled to fight former champion Rafael Dos Anjos, only for the Brazilian to withdraw through injury. Hooker, fresh off last week’s unanimous decision victory against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266, agreed to the match-up - to his immense credit. Makhachev is viewed by many as a future lightweight champion.
Also, Khamzat Chimaev makes his eagerly awaited comeback against fellow welterweight Li Jingliang. The unbeaten Chechen burst onto the UFC scene at the inaugural Fight Island last year, but has not competed in more than a year because of complications resulting from contracting Covid-19. The Sweden-based athlete boasts a professional mixed martial arts record of 9-0 (3-0 in UFC).
Meanwhile, heavyweight contenders Alexander Volkov and Marcin Tybura go head-to-head, as do ranked light heavyweights Magomed Ankalaev and Volkan Oezdemir, to round off the main card.
Full Card *subject to change
Main
Jan Blachowicz (c) v Glover Teixeira (light heavyweight title)
Petr Yan v Cory Sandhagen (bantamweight interim title)
Islam Makhachev v Dan Hooker (lightweight)
Alexander Volkov v Marcin Tybura (heavyweight)
Li Jingliang v Khamzat Chimaev (welterweight)
Magomed Ankalaev v Volkan Oezdemir (light heavyweight)
Prelims
Virna Jandiroba v Amanda Ribas (women’s strawweight)
Ricardo Ramos v Zubaira Tukhugov (featherweight)
Albert Duraev v Roman Kopylov (middleweight)
Shamil Gamzatov v Michal Oleksiejczuk (light heavyweight)
Makwan Amirkhani v Lerone Murphy (featherweight)
Alen Amedovski v Hu Yaozong (middleweight)
Damir Ismagulov v Magomed Mustafaev (lightweight)
Allan Nascimento v Tagir Ulanbekov (flyweight)
How to watch in UAE
Tickets are available at etihadarena.ae and ticketmaster.ae. Fight fans unable to attend in person can watch all the action through the UFC Arabia app.
