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UFC 267

UFC 267: Błachowicz vs. Teixeira was a event produced by the (UFC) on October 30, 2021, at the on in , . The event featured a championship main event between defending champion and top contender , alongside a co-main event for the interim title between former champion and top contender . Broadcast internationally on pay-per-view following prelims on and , it marked the UFC's return to after a year-long hiatus due to the . In the main event, 42-year-old Brazilian veteran submitted Jan Błachowicz via rear-naked choke at 3:02 of the second round, capturing the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship and becoming the promotion's oldest first-time titleholder in history. This victory extended Teixeira's winning streak to five and avenged a prior loss to Błachowicz from 2012 outside the UFC. The co-main event saw reclaim momentum by defeating via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) after five rounds, earning the interim UFC Championship in a bout widely regarded as one of the year's best. The card included several standout performances on the main card, such as submitting Dan Hooker with a kimura at 2:25 of the first round in a lightweight clash that propelled Makhachev toward future title contention, and undefeated prospect returning from injury to submit via rear-naked choke at 3:16 of the first round. Other key results featured Alexander Volkov defeating by unanimous decision in a heavyweight bout, outpointing in a light heavyweight matchup, and Amanda Ribas winning a unanimous decision over Virna Jandiroba in the women's strawweight division. Post-fight bonuses totaled $200,000, with Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen sharing Fight of the Night honors for their thrilling co-main event, while and each received Performance of the Night awards for their dominant finishes.

Event Information

Date and Location

UFC 267 took place on October 30, 2021. The event was held at the on in , . This marked the UFC's return to following a hiatus since in July 2020, underscoring the promotion's expanding presence in the and the venue's ability to host major international crowds. The event occurred in the evening local time, with the main card beginning at 10:00 p.m. GST (Gulf Standard Time, UTC+4), a scheduling choice that facilitated accessibility for global audiences across various time zones.

Broadcast and Attendance

UFC 267 was broadcast exclusively on in the United States as a special presentation available to all subscribers at no additional cost, with the main card starting at 2:00 p.m. ET and prelims at 10:30 a.m. ET. Internationally, the event streamed on for global audiences, complemented by local broadcasters in select regions, such as BT Sport in the United Kingdom where coverage began at 5:00 p.m. GMT. The event attracted 10,171 spectators to the , a robust figure for a post-COVID international held outside . Production featured Joe Martinez as the octagon announcer, stepping in for after the veteran tested positive for and ended his 25-year streak of calling numbered events. The cageside commentary team included handling play-by-play duties, with provided by and .

Background

Announcement and Promotion

UFC officially announced UFC 267 on , 2021, as a event set for October 30, 2021, at the in , , representing the promotion's return to the venue after a series of successful prior cards in the region. The announcement coincided with the reveal of the "Abu Dhabi Showdown Week," a week-long of fan activations, exhibitions, and community events designed to amplify engagement around the main fight card. The promotional theme centered on the event's title bouts and the allure of international star power, branding it as a "mega fights return" to to underscore its prestige within the UFC's global schedule. initiatives leveraged campaigns, high-production trailers featuring dramatic fight previews, and targeted advertisements that highlighted the card's potential for historic outcomes. These efforts were complemented by press conferences and interviews that built narrative momentum around the fighters' journeys and the cultural significance of hosting in the UAE. Key pre-event activities included media day on October 27, 2021, where athletes fielded questions from journalists in , followed by the official pre-fight press conference on October 28, 2021, attended by main card participants and UFC President . The ceremonial weigh-ins took place on October 29, 2021, at on , drawing crowds for face-offs and final preparations. As the immediate follow-up to in late September 2021, UFC 267 was strategically positioned to sustain PPV momentum and expand the promotion's footprint in international markets, particularly through deepened ties with authorities to establish the as a premier MMA hub.

Scheduling Changes

The light heavyweight title bout between champion and challenger was originally scheduled to headline on September 25, 2021, but was relocated to UFC 267 to align with the UFC's planned return to . This shift preserved the matchup as a high-profile main card feature. A significant alteration occurred in the bantamweight division when champion withdrew from his scheduled rematch against due to ongoing complications from neck surgery performed earlier in 2021. Sterling's exit, announced in late September, prompted the UFC to pivot to an interim title fight between Yan and top contender , elevating the bout to co-main event status and maintaining the card's championship appeal. In the lightweight division, Islam Makhachev's planned matchup against fell through when dos Anjos withdrew because of an injury, leading to stepping in on short notice as a replacement opponent. Hooker's acceptance just weeks before the event added intrigue to the bout, as he returned from his own to face a top contender. The event's location in imposed strict protocols, including mandatory proof of full vaccination for all fighters, their teams, and spectators over age 16, along with pre-arrival testing and potential periods for international participants. These measures particularly impacted fighters from regions like and , such as , , and , who navigated enhanced entry requirements from the UAE amid global pandemic restrictions. Additionally, Khamzat Chimaev's participation against Jingliang marked his return after a severe bout with in 2020 that had previously derailed his schedule and led to a brief consideration. Despite these disruptions, the adjustments resulted in a 13-bout card that balanced depth across divisions, with the flurry of changes ultimately contributing to a free pay-per-view broadcast for ESPN+ subscribers to offset any perceived impacts on viewer interest.

Fight Card

Main Card Matchups

The main card of UFC 267 featured six high-profile bouts, headlined by two championship contests and including matchups with significant implications for divisional rankings and fighter legacies. These fights were promoted as a showcase of veteran title challengers, rising contenders, and undefeated prospects, drawing attention to the event's return to Abu Dhabi. In the light heavyweight title bout, Jan Błachowicz entered with a record of 28-8, seeking his second successful defense after unanimous decision victories over in February 2020 and in March 2021. Błachowicz, a with strong wrestling credentials, had established himself as a resilient titleholder during a five-fight win streak in the division. His opponent, , carried a 32-7 record into the fight, riding a five-fight winning streak that included submission wins over and , positioning the 42-year-old black belt as a historic first-time candidate. Teixeira's narrative centered on his perseverance after multiple close title opportunities, with his 12 UFC stoppage victories tying for the most in history. The matchup pitted Błachowicz's power against Teixeira's elite grappling, with the winner poised to shape the division's future amid ongoing debates over aging contenders. The co-main event was a interim title clash between and . Yan, entering at 15-2, was returning from a nine-month suspension following a controversial disqualification loss to in March 2021, aiming to reclaim gold after his undisputed title win over Jose Aldo in December 2020. Known for his precise and four UFC knockouts, Yan sought to reassert dominance in a division plagued by the undisputed champion's injury absence. Sandhagen, with a 13-2 record, was on an upward trajectory following a third-round of in March 2021 and a decision win over Sean O'Malley in July 2021, highlighting his unorthodox striking and nine career stoppages. This five-round bout was framed as a stylistic contrast between Yan's technical pressure and Sandhagen's creative offense, with the victor earning a shot at unifying the belt. A pivotal lightweight matchup saw face . Makhachev, holding an 18-1 record, was on an eight-fight win streak as the protégé of retired champion , with recent submission victories over and Thiago Moises underscoring his sambo-based grappling dominance. Hooker entered at 20-10, known for his striking power and resilience, coming off a win over earlier in 2021. The fight's narrative emphasized Makhachev's potential to launch a title run in Khabib's footsteps against Hooker's battle-tested experience, positioning the winner as a leading lightweight threat. In action, undefeated prospect met . Chimaev entered with a 9-0 record, generating immense hype after three UFC wins in 2020, including stoppages over John Phillips and Rhys McKee, all while showcasing overwhelming wrestling and cardio despite a lengthy due to issues. The 27-year-old Chechen fighter's ability to finish all opponents early fueled discussions of his rapid ascent toward title contention. Jingliang, at 18-6, brought veteran striking prowess with seven s, including a recent head-kick finish of , positioning him as a dangerous test for Chimaev's undefeated streak. This bout was billed as a clash of Chimaev's smothering ground game against Jingliang's power and resilience. The heavyweight bout featured Alexander Volkov against . Volkov entered with a 33-8 record and renowned for his knockout power—including 23 stoppages via strikes—relying on his rangy to control distance as a former Bellator heavyweight champion. Tybura, at 21-6, was noted for his durability and well-rounded skills, aiming to leverage his ability and top control to grind out rounds. This matchup highlighted a stylistic clash with potential implications for the upper echelons of the division. In a matchup, faced . Ankalaev entered at 15-1, on a 10-fight win streak with strong wrestling and striking, looking to build toward title contention. Oezdemir, with a 17-4 record, brought explosive knockout power from his former title challenge experience, creating a contrast between Ankalaev's control and Oezdemir's aggression.

Undercard Matchups

The undercard at UFC 267 featured several competitive prelim bouts that showcased a mix of fighters and promising prospects, contributing to the event's depth in the non-main card portion broadcast on and . The featherweight prelim pitted undefeated prospect , 10-0 entering and 2-0-1 in the UFC with a focus on precise striking, against , who entered 16-4 and brought strong credentials from his wrestling background. Murphy's status as an emerging talent from , combined with his knockout threat, contrasted Amirkhani's submission expertise and pressure wrestling, offering divisional intrigue for the talent-rich class. A flyweight prelim featured , 13-1 entering and hailing from with elite wrestling pedigree, taking on Allan Nascimento, 16-3 and a black belt known for his submission prowess. Ulanbekov's chain wrestling and ground control tested Nascimento's guard work and opportunistic scrambles, underscoring the international flavor and emphasis in the flyweight division's developmental ranks. In the prelim, , 6-1 entering after dominating regionally with his wrestling base, met Hu Yaozong in the latter's UFC debut, representing with a 3-2 record and an emphasis on resilience. Petroski's chain and regional accolades positioned him as a favorite against Hu's opportunity to break into on an international stage. Early prelims highlighted debuts and regional matchups, including clash between Viacheslav Borshchev, making his UFC debut after earning a contract via with his kickboxing flair, and , also debuting with a wrestling-heavy style from his 7-1 pre-UFC record. Additionally, veteran Michal Oleksiejczuk, 15-4 (1 NC) entering and a knockout artist with 13 stoppages, faced , 20-4-1 and a seasoned grappler with European circuit experience. Rounding out the early portion, , 10-1 entering with sharp striking, met Ange Loosa in his debut, bringing Congolese representation and an aggressive, untested approach to the division. These bouts emphasized emerging international talents and stylistic contrasts in the prelim structure.

Results

Main Card Outcomes

In the main event, captured the UFC championship by submitting defending champion via rear-naked choke at 3:02 of the second round. Błachowicz started aggressively with strikes, but Teixeira reversed a takedown attempt, mounted, and transitioned to the choke after a flurry of ground-and-pound, marking him as the oldest first-time UFC titleholder at 42 years old. The co-main event for the interim title went the full five rounds, with defeating by (49-46, 48-47, 48-47). controlled the pace with precise striking and leg kicks, outlanding Sandhagen in significant strikes while defending takedowns effectively throughout the technical exchanges. Islam Makhachev solidified his status as a top lightweight contender by submitting Dan Hooker via kimura at 2:25 of the first round. Makhachev absorbed an early guillotine attempt before securing a takedown and locking in the arm lock from the side position, extending his winning streak to nine fights. Khamzat Chimaev remained undefeated with a dominant submission victory over Li Jingliang via rear-naked choke at 3:16 of the first round, showcasing relentless takedown pressure and ground control. Chimaev lifted Li across the Octagon for an early takedown, transitioned to the back amid heavy ground strikes, and forced the tap despite Li's defensive efforts. Opening the main card, Tom Aspinall pulled off a shocking upset by knocking out heavily favored Curtis Blaydes via knee and punches at 1:09 of the first round. As Blaydes shot for a takedown, Aspinall countered with a flying knee to the head followed by hammerfists on the ground, ending the fight abruptly and earning widespread praise for the highlight-reel finish.

Undercard Outcomes

The undercard at UFC 267 delivered a mix of decisive finishes and tactical decisions, providing key opportunities for several up-and-coming fighters to make statements in their respective divisions. In a heavyweight prelim bout, veteran Alexander Volkov outstruck Marcin Tybura across three rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 29-28), snapping Tybura's two-fight winning streak and reaffirming Volkov's status as a top contender while highlighting his superior range management. In the women's strawweight division, Amanda Ribas defeated Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision (29-28 x3), utilizing a mix of striking and grappling to control the pace over three rounds. Featherweight prospect remained undefeated at 11-0-1 with a highlight-reel over at 0:14 of the second round, landing a devastating followed by punches that forced the referee stoppage and propelled toward higher-ranked opponents in a division ripe for new talent. In another featherweight matchup, outpointed Ricardo Ramos via unanimous decision (29-28 x3), relying on crisp striking and forward pressure to secure the win in a competitive three-round affair. The flyweight prelim featured a grappling-intensive clash where Tagir Ulanbekov edged out Allan Nascimento via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29), using effective takedowns and control time to claim the win in a bout that tested both fighters' submission defenses and boosted Ulanbekov's profile as a promising grappler in the weight class. Middleweight newcomer Andre Petroski extended his UFC winning streak to 2-0 by submitting Hu Yaozong with an arm-triangle choke at 4:46 of the third round, showcasing dominant ground control and finishing ability that positions him as an emerging threat in the middleweight ranks. In a light heavyweight prelim bout, Magomed Ankalaev defeated Volkan Oezdemir by unanimous decision (29-28 x3), dominating with wrestling and ground control to solidify his contender status. In the early prelims, Michal Oleksiejczuk delivered a quick finish against Shamil Gamzatov at 3:31 of the first round via punches, capitalizing on an to drop his opponent and follow up with ground strikes, a performance that revitalized his career after recent setbacks. Albert Duraev controlled en route to a (30-27 x3), relying on wrestling to neutralize strikes and secure a developmental win that solidifies his undefeated run. Finally, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos dominated Benoit Saint Denis with a (29-26 x3), using precise striking and defense to overwhelm the debuting Frenchman and extend his own streak to three victories. These outcomes underscored the depth of talent on the undercard, with several finishes accelerating the rise of fighters like , Ulanbekov, Oleksiejczuk, and Ankalaev.

Aftermath

Bonus Awards

At UFC 267, the awarded its standard post-fight bonuses to recognize exceptional performances, with selections made by UFC executives based on criteria including fight excitement, technical skill, and decisive outcomes. These bonuses, a tradition for numbered pay-per-view events, total $200,000 distributed across four recipients at $50,000 each. The Fight of the Night award went to the co-main event interim title bout between and , praised for its back-and-forth action over five rounds, where Yan defeated Sandhagen by . Each fighter received $50,000 for their contributions to one of the event's most thrilling matchups. Two Performance of the Night bonuses were granted for standout individual efforts. earned one for his second-round submission victory over to claim the title, showcasing veteran resilience and finishing prowess. received the other for his dominant first-round rear-naked choke submission of in the division, highlighting his control and efficiency. Both awards carried a $50,000 payout, underscoring the event's emphasis on high-impact finishes.

Post-Event Impacts

Glover Teixeira's submission victory over at UFC 267 concluded Błachowicz's tenure as UFC champion, marking the end of his reign that began in 2020. This outcome positioned as the division's new titleholder, setting the stage for his first championship defense against at in June 2022, where he ultimately lost the belt via fifth-round submission. In the division, Petr Yan's unanimous decision win over captured the interim title, paving the way for a unification bout against undisputed champion at in April 2022, a contest Yan lost by . Islam Makhachev's first-round submission of Dan Hooker advanced his standing in the lightweight division, accelerating his path to a title opportunity against at in October 2022, where Makhachev claimed the championship via second-round submission. Alexander Volkov's unanimous decision victory over in the division improved his ranking, leading to future contention bouts including a rematch with . Magomed Ankalaev's unanimous decision win over elevated his position in the light heavyweight rankings, contributing to his undefeated streak and title contention trajectory. Several fighters encountered significant hurdles from their performances at the event. Khamzat Chimaev's dominant first-round submission of was overshadowed by a deep cut above his eye sustained early in the bout, which required stitches and led to his withdrawal from a main event slot at in September 2022, postponing his anticipated title pursuit by several months. UFC 267 signified the promotion's triumphant resumption of events in after a pandemic-induced , drawing an of 10,171 to and generating substantial international interest through broad ESPN+ distribution, which helped solidify the emirate's role as a premier global MMA hub. The milestone of capturing the title at age 42 underscored a rare resurgence for long-tenured fighters, inspiring narratives of perseverance in the sport. The official UFC rankings update following the event reflected these shifts, with ascending to the No. 1 position as champion, Błachowicz dropping to No. 2 contender; climbing to No. 4 in ; rising to No. 1 in ; Chimaev debuting at No. 10 in .