The main event of UFC 267 will feature a light heavyweight fight between Jan Blachowicz (28-8 MMA, 11-5 UFC) and Glover Teixeira (32-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC). UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira airs live from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates this Saturday, October 30th. The main card will start with a fight time of 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT, with the ESPN+ prelims beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET/7:30 a.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Blachowicz: 38 years old | 6’2” | 78” reach
Teixeira: 42 years old | 6’2” | 76” reach
What have these two done recently?
Blachowicz: W – Israel Adesanya (UD) | W – Dominick Reyes (TKO) | W – Corey Anderson (KO)
Teixeira: W – Thiago Santos (SUB) | W – Anthony Smith (TKO) | W – Nikita Krylov (SD)
How did these two get here?
Two words: career resurgence, and both Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira have experienced one.
Blachowicz had a rough start to his UFC tenure and was thought of as more of a journeyman than a contender. The Polish fighter racked up more losses than wins, and it appeared as though he was in jeopardy of being on his way out of the promotion. Then, something changed for Blachowicz. He won his next four fights and looked every part of an eventual title challenger. Unfortunately, he ran into the force known as Thiago Santos, who snapped his four-fight win streak at UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs. Santos over two years ago. Undeterred by the loss, Blachowicz returned to the Octagon just five months later and brutally knocked out Luke Rockhold at UFC 239. Wins over Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza and Corey Anderson were also added to his resume. Blachowicz was then given a chance to vie for vacant light heavyweight championship, which he acquired via second-round technical knockout over Dominick Reyes at UFC 253. His first title defense was successful as Blachowicz defeated Israel Adesanya by unanimous decision at UFC 259 this past March.
It has been a while since Teixeira was involved in a championship fight, but he has since proved why he was deserving of another opportunity. Teixeira suffered back-to-back losses to then-champion Jon Jones and Phil Davis but rebounded with an impressive three-fight tear that saw him finish the likes of Ovince Saint Preux, Patrick Cummins and Rashad Evans. The Brazilian would alternate between wins and losses over a two-year period before rattling off five straight wins, including comeback finishes over Anthony Smith and the aforementioned Santos.
Why should you care?
This is do-or-die for our light heavyweight Cinderella Man. Can Teixeira avoid the ‘Polish Power’ of Blachowicz and pull off the upset? There is only one way to find out. Watch it!
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