UFC 267 fight card and time: Who's on the full card and how to watch

Two title fights and a host of popular athletes feature at the October 30 event at Etihad Arena

UFC bantamweight Petr Yan trains in an open workout at the W Hotel Yas Island Abu Dhabi before UFC 267 on October 30, 2021 at Etihad Arena. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National

UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz trains in an open workout at the W Hotel Yas Island.

UFC light heavyweight challenger Glover Teixeira trains in an open workout at the W Hotel.

UFC bantamweight Cory Sandhagen.

Glover Teixeira trains in preparation for his upcoming UFC light heavyweight title bout against champion Jan Blachowicz.

Cory Sandhagen trains ahead of his upcoming UFC interim bantamweight title bout against Petr Yan.

UFC bantamweight Cory Sandhagen trains in an open workout at the W Hotel.

Cory Sandhagen during an open workout.

UFC bantamweight Petr Yan.

Petr Yan trains ahead of his upcoming uFC 267 bout with Corey Sandhagen.

Glover Teixeira warms up.

UFC bantamweight Petr Yan grapples with a training partner.

Petr Yan trains in action.

UFC bantamweight Petr Yan stretches.

UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz trains in an open workout at the W Hotel before UFC 267.

Petr Yan stretches.

UFC bantamweight Petr Yan trains in an open workout.

Petr Yan in action.

UFC bantamweight Petr Yan trains in an open workout at the W Hotel.

UFC light heavyweight challenger Glover Teixeira kicks the pad.

UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz takes a break during an open workout.

UFC bantamweight challenger Cory Sandhagen will take part in the co-main event at UFC 267.

UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz.

UFC bantamweight Petr Yan trains.

The UFC makes its latest stop in Abu Dhabi this month, with a UFC 267 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island that includes two title bouts. Here’s the lowdown.

What is UFC 267?

The latest pay-per-view event from the world’s lead mixed martial arts organisation. UFC 267 is topped by Jan Blachowicz’s light-heavyweight title defence against Glover Teixeira, the No 1-ranked contender. In the night’s other championship clash, former bantamweight belt-holder Petr Yan takes on Cory Sandhagen, a late replacement for current champion Aljamain Sterling, in an interim title fight. UFC 267 marks the conclusion to the second Abu Dhabi Showdown Week.

When is it?

Saturday October 30. The prelims kick off at 6.30pm, with the main card at 10pm UAE.

Where is it?

Etihad Arena. The arena opened officially with UFC in January, the promotion’s third Fight Island series in the capital.

Who’s fighting?

The extended main card features six bouts. As said, Blachowicz’s second title defence headlines, with the powerful Pole looking to keep hold of the belt he captured last September against Dominick Reyes at UFC 253, also in Abu Dhabi. Blachowicz, who has since defended successfully against middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, takes on the extremely durable Teixeira, who sits as the division’s top-ranked challenger.

That clash follows the bantamweight interim title bout between Yan and Sandhagen. Yan had originally been slated to face Sterling in a rematch of their March encounter, when the American was awarded the belt after Yan was disqualified for an intentional illegal knee. However, Sterling was forced to pull out as he continues his recovery from neck surgery. Thus, No 3-ranked contender Sandhagen stepped in on short notice. Both Yan and Sandhagen have previously competed in Abu Dhabi.

Elsewhere on the card, Islam Makhachev goes up against Dan Hooker in a hugely anticipated bout, which also features a late stand-in. Makhachev, who rides an eight-fight win streak, was scheduled to fight former champion Rafael Dos Anjos, only for the Brazilian to withdraw through injury. Hooker, fresh off last week’s unanimous decision victory against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266, agreed to the match-up - to his immense credit. Makhachev is viewed by many as a future lightweight champion.

Also, Khamzat Chimaev makes his eagerly awaited comeback against fellow welterweight Li Jingliang. The unbeaten Chechen burst onto the UFC scene at the inaugural Fight Island last year, but has not competed in more than a year because of complications resulting from contracting Covid-19. The Sweden-based athlete boasts a professional mixed martial arts record of 9-0 (3-0 in UFC).

Meanwhile, heavyweight contenders Alexander Volkov and Marcin Tybura go head-to-head, as do ranked light heavyweights Magomed Ankalaev and Volkan Oezdemir, to round off the main card.

Full Card *subject to change

Main

Jan Blachowicz (c) v Glover Teixeira (light heavyweight title)

Petr Yan v Cory Sandhagen (bantamweight interim title)

Islam Makhachev v Dan Hooker (lightweight)

Alexander Volkov v Marcin Tybura (heavyweight)

Li Jingliang v Khamzat Chimaev (welterweight)

Magomed Ankalaev v Volkan Oezdemir (light heavyweight)

Prelims

Virna Jandiroba v Amanda Ribas (women’s strawweight)

Ricardo Ramos v Zubaira Tukhugov (featherweight)

Albert Duraev v Roman Kopylov (middleweight)

Shamil Gamzatov v Michal Oleksiejczuk (light heavyweight)

Makwan Amirkhani v Lerone Murphy (featherweight)

Alen Amedovski v Hu Yaozong (middleweight)

Damir Ismagulov v Magomed Mustafaev (lightweight)

Allan Nascimento v Tagir Ulanbekov (flyweight)

How to watch in UAE

Tickets are available at etihadarena.ae and ticketmaster.ae. Fight fans unable to attend in person can watch all the action through the UFC Arabia app.