UFC 267 LIVE: Blachowicz vs Teixeira fight result plus Khamzat Chimaev reaction tonight
Re-live all the action from ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi, where two titles were on the line
Glover Teixeira completed his fairytale run to the UFC light heavyweight title on Saturday night, submitting Jan Blachowicz in the main event of UFC 267 to become the second oldest champion in the company’s history.
Two days after turning 42, Teixeira finished Blachowicz with a neck crank in the second round, capping off an enthralling card on ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi. The Brazilian had previously challenged for the belt in 2014, when he was outpointed by Jon Jones, and his recent five-fight win streak seemed to represent a race against time to make one last run at the gold. And Teixeira produced a stunning display in the Etihad Arena to beat Blachowicz, the finish seeing the challenger take down the champion, before easing into mount position, taking his opponent’s back and flattening him out. From there, the Brazilian locked in a neck crank that forced Blachowicz to tap out immediately.
In the evening’s co-main event, Petr Yan outpointed Cory Sandhagen to win the interim bantamweight title, and elsewhere on the card, rising star Khamzat Chimaev returned after a 13-month absence to secure his fourth stoppage win from as many UFC outings. The Russian-born Swede, who had suffered badly from Covid-19 over the last year, submitted Li Jingliang in the first round of their contest, with the Chinaman passing out in a rear naked choke.
Re-live the UFC 267 main card and prelims below.
UFC 267 – Yan vs Sandhagen
Round 3
Sandhagen appears to stagger an off-balance Yan with a left-hand counter.
Yan lands a spinning back kick to the body.
Lots of hand fighting at the moment.
Sandhagen with stinging jabs from both stances. He’s controlling the range and angles so well.
UFC 267 – Yan vs Sandhagen
Round 2
The bantamweights trade punches to the body. Yan with heavy body kicks whenever Sandhagen switches to southpaw.
Yan cracks his opponent with a left hand! More body and low kicks from the Russian. Sandhagen beckons him on.
A spinning back fist then straight punch from Yan! It’s his power versus Sandhagen’s volume right now.
Sandhagen with an unsuccessful takedown attempt. He’s 0-3 now. He goes for another flying knee – blocked again.
Yan 10-9 Sandhagen as Indy Sport sees it. One round each.
UFC 267 – Yan vs Sandhagen
Round 1
Now it’s Sandhagen pressuring. Yan has a high guard, but he’s getting peppered with shots.
Sandhagen tries for a single-leg takedown but quickly gives up. Yan with an elbow off the break!
Sandhagen goes for a flying knee – much like the one that he used to knock out Frankie Edgar – but Yan covers up well.
Yan 9-10 Sandhagen, in Indy Sport’s eyes.
UFC 267 – Yan vs Sandhagen
Round 1
Yan with early pressure; Sandhagen circles.
The pair trade leg kicks. Yan wings a hook but misses.
More hard low kicks from Sandhagen, but Yan replies with a body kick.
“Petr Yan” chants from the Abu Dhabi crowd.
Sandhagen shoots for a takedown, which is stuffed. The American gets a body lock from behind, though, until Yan escapes.
UFC 267 – Yan vs Sandhagen
This one could well end up being fight of the night.
Petr Yan, who lost his bantamweight title to Aljamain Sterling via disqualifaction (illegal knee) last time out, takes on Cory Sandhagen.
This was supposed to be a rematch between Yan and Sterling, but the latter was not fit to compete, and so an interim championship has been made.
It’s on the line tonight between Russia’s Yan and American Sandhagen, who bounced back from a quick submission loss to Sterling last year with two straight wins.
Sandhagen then fought former champ TJ Dillashaw and lost via split decision.
Dillashaw was expected to step in to face Yan here, but due to injury he could not. Because of the controversial nature of Sandhagen’s loss to Dillashaw, though, many fans see Sandhagen as a worthy competitor in this fight for the interim title.
UFC 267 – Makhachev def. Hooker
Makhachev: “Brother, now it’s time. Before it was top 10, top 11 [opponents]. This guy was No6.
“Nine-fight win streak, now I’m ready for a title shot. This division is a little bit asleep, I’m ready to wake it up.
“MMA ground game, I have the best in the division. I’m coming to take this belt and keep it for many years.”
UFC 267 – Makhachev def. Hooker
Makhachev def. Hooker via first-round submission (Kimura, 2:25).
UFC 267 – Makhachev def. Hooker
Round 1
Hooker swings a right hook, but Makhachev ducks under and eases his opponent to the ground with a double-leg takedown.
The pair are on the mat by the fence, with Khabib just on the other side.
“Islam” chants from the crowd as the Russian looks for a Kimura...
And Hooker taps!!! That’s nine wins in a row for Makhachev!
UFC 267 – Makhachev vs Hooker
The excitement is cranking up now.
Islam Makhachev, who has former lightweight champion and childhood friend Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner tonight, is touted by many as a future title-holder at 155lbs.
Following the withdrawal of the injured Rafael dos Anjos, fan favourite Dan Hooker steps in to face the Russian on short notice here.
Can the sixth-ranked New Zealand native upset the odds against his fifth-ranked opponent?
Hooker last competed just one month ago, outpointing Nasrat Haqparast. ‘The Hangman’ deserves real credit for taking such a tough fight not only on short notice, but also so soon after his most recent outing.
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