Blachowicz vs Teixeira – what you need to know

The light heavyweight title is on the line as we go to Abu Dhabi for UFC® 267: BLACHOWICZ vs. TEIXEIRA. It will be available to watch at prime time for the EMEA audience, with the prelims starting at 3.30pm (BST) and the main card staring at 7.00pm (BST).

Golden Glover
Two veterans clash in this title fight as Jan Blachowicz defends his belt against Glover Teixeira.

Since claiming the title via a second-round knockout of Dominick Reyes, Jan Blachowicz has defended his title once, when he beat Israel Adesanya in March. Blachowicz has been pro since 2007, and holds a 28-8 record, with 17 career finishes. He is on a five-win streak and throughout his career has accrued four post-fight bonuses and secured seven first-round finishes. Outside the Octagon, Jan loves the fantasy novel, The Witcher, and says the protagonist of the books is his hero.

Glover Teixeira used to work on farms in Brazil, and this weekend he is competing for the UFC light heavyweight title after missing out on the gold by decision back in 2014. He has been professional since 2002, and holds a 32-7 record, with 27 career finishes, 18 of them coming by knockout. An exciting athlete in the Octagon, Teixeira has earned seven post-fight awards in his career. He also has the most finishes in UFC light heavyweight history, including most submissions in the weight class.

Show no mercy
The bantamweight division is one of the most stacked divisions in the UFC, this week sees the no.1 ranked contender, Petr ‘No Mercy’ Yan faces the no.3 ranked Cory Sandhagen.

Boasting a 15-2 record, Petr Yan is looking to bounce back and earn himself another shot at the UFC bantamweight title. He won the belt by knocking out Jose Aldo in July 2020 but lost it against Aljamain Sterling in March of this year. Yan lives up to his nickname and has been ruthless since turning pro, securing eight finishes in his career, including seven by knockout. He has the most knockdowns in bantamweight history, and his 194 significant strikes landed against Jose Aldo, is enough for second most landed in one fight in UFC bantamweight history.

Sandhagen is fighting for the third time this year, after securing a first round knockout against Frankie Edgar in February, he suffered a split decision defeat to TJ Dillashaw. He holds a 14-3 record, with nine of those wins being finishes. When he isn’t competing, Cory works for a non-profit that provides support for abused and neglected young people in Denver.

Looking for a Miracle
Two exciting featherweights face off as Makwan ‘Mr Finland’ Amirkhani and Englishman Lerone ‘The Miracle’ Murphy go head-to-head.

A grappling specialist, Amirkhani has 11 wins via submission, with his most common technique being the rear naked choke. He has been pro for 11 years and has 11 first-round finishes under his belt. He holds a degree in sports science and was working as a bouncer before transitioning full-time to MMA.

Undefeated in his career so far, Lerone Murphy returns for his fourth fight in Abu Dhabi. He fought to a draw with Zubaira Tukhugov on his UFC debut and picked up victories over Ricardo Ramos (first-round knockout) and Douglas Silva de Andrade (unanimous decision). He has six knockouts in his career, all coming in the first round. He holds a national diploma in sport exercise, coaching and fitness, and has trained with former Premier League star Ravel Morrison, who was a childhood friend.