The UFC has a 42-year-old light heavyweight champion.
Glover Teixeira shocked the MMA world with a second-round submission of Jan Blachowicz in the main event of UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi.
Teixeira became the second-oldest champion in UFC history with a stunning performance that was grapple-heavy and neutralized Blachowicz's lauded striking from the outset.
After an opening round that saw him plant Blachowicz on his back for four minutes and work his opponent over with grappling, the Brazilian knew where the fight needed to stay. A few tense moments of striking eventually led to Teixeira putting the Polish fighter on the canvas. It didn't take long for Glover to get Blachowicz's back, put in the hooks, flatten his opponent and sink in a rear-naked choke that caused the submission.
Here's how it all went down at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi.
MORE: Save over 30% when you buy UFC 267 and an ESPN+ Annual Plan for only $89.98
UFC 267 live updates, highlights from Blachowiz vs. Teixeira
(All times Eastern)
Glover Teixeira submits Jan Blachowicz in the second round to win championship
Round 2 (5:14 p.m.) : Jan starts with jabs to open the round. Body shot by Jan. Glover misses a takedown attempt. Beautiful combination by Jan. Glover presses Jan along the cage. Jabs and an uppercut by Jan. Left hand by Glover rocks Jan. Combination by Jan lands. Glover goes for a single and gets a takedown. Glover in full mount! Flattens Jan! Choke! Submission!!! Glover wins the championship!!!
Round 1 (5:08 p.m.) : Leg kicks from Jan to open the fight. Glover scoops a leg and takes Jan down. Glover in Jan’s full guard, looking to advance. Glover cranks on the neck with a can opener and Jan seems to have no escape route. Glover just wearing on Jan and lands a short elbow. Glover landing some shots and Jan just riding out the round. Another can opener to close the round. 10-9 Teixeira
Petr Yan wins interim bantamweight title with unanimous decision over Cory Sandhagen
Scores: 49-46, 49-46, 49-46
Round 5 (4:41 p.m.) : Yan in pursuit. Lands a leg kick and a left hand. Jumping knee blocked by Yan. Lots of movement by Sandhagen but nothing of consequence landing. Yan attempts a takedown but Sandhagen resists. Huge head kick by Yan that nearly sent his brain into the stands. Somehow, Sandhagen still has his senses intact. Wild. Sandhagen doing well but he’s still getting scraped when Yan lands. Sandhagen lands a jumping knee. Spinning head kick by Yan and a left hand to close the fight out. 10-9 Yan (49-46 Yan)
Round 4 (4:34 p.m.) : Brief exchange to start the round. Sandhagen prodding Yan with jabs. Hard left hand by Yan and a combination snap Sandhagen’s head back. Yan is like a brick wall. Yan with a barrage that end with a left hand. It’s starting to snowball as Yan’s momentum continues to build. Sandhagen with a takedown. They exchange heel hooks and pop to their feet. Yan rips Sandhagen with a combination and a vicious body shot. Yan crushes him with a left hand and a right down the middle. Sandhagen shoots but gets nothing. Yan goes back to work. Sandhagen is fighting a hell of a fight but you need more than hell to beat Petr Yan. 10-9 Yan (39-37 Yan)
Round 3 (4:28 p.m.): Spinning back kick lands for Yan to start the round. Sandhagen staying busy and Yan digs to the body with a hard left hand. Left uppercut by Yan. Combination by Yan. Sandhagen slowing ever so slightly in the output department. Hard body kick by Yan. Spinning backfist puts Sandhagen down! Ground and pound by Yan! Sandhagen scrambles but Yan gets his back. They both get to their feet. What a sequence. 10-9 Yan (29-28 Yan)
Round 2 (4:22 p.m.) : Sandhagen starts with leg kicks, Yan fires one and his leg kicks have some weight. They mix it up, Yan is showing more aggression and digging to the body. Hard left hand by Yan. Body shot by Sandhangen. Yan is making adjustments but Sandhagen refuses to give him the same look. Spinning back fist and left hand by Yan lands. It’s heating up. Sandhagen shoots for a takedown but it’s stuffed. Jumping knee by Sandhagen. A close round that can go either way but it feels like Yan is just getting started. 10-9 Yan (19-19)
Round 1 (4:16 p.m.) : Sandhagen is busy from the opening bell. Leg kicks, jabs, movement. Yan moving forward and closing the distance. Sandhagen rips to the body. Sandhagen’s speed is surprising. Shoots for a takedown but is stuffed. Yan separates and lands a body kick. Sandhagen with a combination, stance switch and finishes with a leg kick. Sandhagen is peppering Yan with strikes. Jumping knee. 10-9 Sandhagen
Islam Makhachev submits Dan Hooker in one round
3:49 p.m.: The lightweight division is officially on notice because Islam Makhachev is here to cause problems for the division. Everyone knew what Makhachev was going to do but Hooker had no chance to stop it. It didn't take long for Makhachev to get Hooker on his back and the rest was elementary. Makhachev methodically moved into position to trap Hooker's arm, stepped over with his right leg and torqued a kimura lock that caused the submission. If it's feeling like the path that Khabib took to become champion, yeah, you're right. It is.
Alexander Volkov uses striking to turn back Marcin Tybura's constant pressure with unanimous decision
Scores: 30-27, 30-27, 29-28
3:30 p.m. : The final round saw Tybura continue to apply pressure with striking and takedown attempts but Volkov refused to allow fatigue to be the difference-maker. Instead, Volkov landed strikes from a distance and, eventually, saw Tybura's gas tank fail him. It was close but Volkov's superior striking and ability to stay upright appears to give him the victory.
3:24 p.m.: It appears that Tybura's pressure beginning to weigh on Volkov. Through two rounds, Tybura refuses to give his opponent room to breathe despite being unable to secure a takedown. But it's clear that Volkov is wearing down and it could give him the opening he needs to get the finish.
3:18 p.m.: Volkov's size is making a significant difference as Tybura has been unable to get him to the mat or be effective striking from a distance. Tybura won't stop coming forward but he'll need a new entry point in order to close the distance and make this competitive.
Khamzat Chimaev dominates, submits Li Jingliang in one round
2:53 p.m. : The hype is real. Khamzat Chimaev was forced out of action due to COVID and there was curiosity whether or not he'd be able to keep the remarkable momentum he started last year. Well, Chimaev hasn't missed a beat. Chimaev swept under Li and immediately slammed him to the canvas in the first minute of action. From there, he worked Li over until he got his opponent's back, flattened him out and began raining down punches. Li struggled to defend himself and soon found Chimaev's bicep wrapped around his throat. Li tried to survive but Chimaev switched grips and choked him to sleep.
This man is scary and a title opportunity may not be too far away.
Magomed Ankalaev makes easy work of Volkan Oezdemir with unanimous decision
Scores: 30-27, 30-27 & 29-28
2:36 p.m.: This was easy work for Ankalaev, who is absolutely a threat to the upper echelon of the light heavyweight division. Oezdemir is a former title contender but was made to be nothing more than a speed bump on Ankalaev's road to a championship. He was too fast, too sharp and just too good as he dissected his opponent to a unanimous decision.
2:23 p.m.: Volkan Oezdemir is struggling with Ankalaev's speed. After some early moments when Oezdemir used his size and strength, Ankalaev adjusted and has been carving up his opponent in the standup. Oezdemir is going to have to make this ugly in order for it to be competitive.
2:07 p.m . : It's time for the UFC 267 main card after an extremely violent series of prelims. Can the main card build on that momentum?
UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira start time
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 30
- Start time: 10:30 a.m. ET / 7:30 a.m. PT
- Main card (PPV): 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT
- Main event: 4:15 p.m. ET / 1:15 p.m. PT (approximate)
UFC 267 will take place on Saturday with the prelims kicking the event off at 10:30 a.m. ET, before the pay-per-view main card begins at 2 p.m. ET. Blachowicz and Teixeira should enter the Octagon around 4:15 p.m. ET, depending on the length of the undercard bouts.
How to watch UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira
- TV channels/live stream: ESPN+
UFC 267 is available in the U.S. on the ESPN+ subscription streaming service for no additional cost. The entire card will also be available for UFC Fight Pass subscribers.
In Canada, the main card pay-per-view is available on Bell, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, and UFC Fight Pass.
UFC 267 fight card
Main Card
- Glover Teixeira def. Jan Blachowicz for UFC Light Heavyweight championship (rear-naked choke) (3:02)
- Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen for the interim UFC Bantamweight championship (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
- Islam Makhachev def. Dan Hooker. via 1st round submission (kimura) (2:25)
- Alexander Volkov def. Marcin Tyburak (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Khamzat Chimaev def. Li Jingliang via 1st round submission (rear naked choke) (3:16)
- Magomed Ankalaev def. Volkan Oezdemir via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Preliminary card
- Amanda Ribas def. Virna Jandiroba via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Zubaira Tukhugov def. Ricardo Ramos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Albert Duraev def. Roman Kopylov via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-27, 29-27)
- Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Benoit St. Denis via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-26, 29-26)
- Michał Oleksiejczuk def. Shamil Gamzatov via 1st round TKO (punches) (3:31)
- Lerone Murphy def. Makwan Amirkhani via 2nd round KO (knee) (:14)
- Andre Petroski def. Hu Yaozong via 3rd round submission (arm-triangle) (4:46)
- Tagir Ulanbekov def. Allan Nascimento via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
