UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Ariel Helwhiney
- May 17
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 15
Introduction
UFC 267: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira took place on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. It was the most loaded card the UFC had ever held on Fight Island, the night a 42-year-old veteran completed one of the most remarkable late-career arcs in MMA history, and a launching pad for several careers that would define the mid-2020s. The card produced an estimated 400,000 pay-per-view buys.
Glover Teixeira took Jan Blachowicz's back in round two, locked in a tight rear-naked choke at 3:02, and finished it. At 42 years and 28 days old, he became the second-oldest first-time UFC champion in promotion history. The reaction in his corner — Teixeira sobbing, his longtime coach embracing him — became one of the defining images of 2021.
The co-main saw Petr Yan reclaim half the bantamweight conversation by winning the interim title over Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46). Khamzat Chimaev returned from an 18-month COVID-19 layoff with a first-round D’Arce choke of Li Jingliang on the main card.
Contents
• FAQ
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, October 30, 2021
📍 Venue: Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
👥 Attendance: 9,500
💰 Gate: Undisclosed
📺 PPV Buys: ~400,000
📡 Broadcast: Pay-per-view (ESPN+ in USA)
🏆 Main Event: Jan Blachowicz (c) vs. Glover Teixeira — UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (205 lbs)
✅ Result: Teixeira def. Blachowicz via Submission (rear-naked choke) — R2, 3:02
🥇 Co-Main: Petr Yan def. Cory Sandhagen via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) — Interim Bantamweight Title
The Build-Up
Glover Teixeira's path to UFC 267 was the longest in modern UFC championship history. Signed in 2012, he had lost a title fight to Jon Jones at UFC 172 in April 2014, bounced around the upper-middle rankings, and rebuilt with a four-fight win streak by age 42. Jan Blachowicz had defended successfully against Israel Adesanya at UFC 259 and was the -180 favourite. The pre-fight cycle was respectful — Blachowicz openly acknowledged Teixeira's longevity and expected a five-round fight.
Main Event: Blachowicz vs. Teixeira
Round one was Blachowicz's. He used his straight left hand to find Teixeira's chin three times, scored a takedown in the final minute, and finished the round on top. The judges had it 10-9 Blachowicz across the board.
Round two changed everything. Teixeira found a level change at 2:30, brought Blachowicz to the canvas, and immediately worked into a back-mount. By 3:00, the rear-naked choke was locked. Blachowicz tapped at 3:02. Glover Teixeira was the UFC light-heavyweight champion. At 42 years and 28 days old, he became the second-oldest first-time UFC champion in promotion history.
Co-Main Event: Yan vs. Sandhagen
Petr Yan reclaimed half the bantamweight conversation after his DQ loss at UFC 259. He outboxed Cory Sandhagen across five rounds, controlled distance with the jab, and avoided the spinning attacks Sandhagen wanted. Final scorecards: 50-45, 49-46, 49-46. Yan was the interim UFC bantamweight champion. The unification with Aljamain Sterling at UFC 273 in April 2022 was a competitive split-decision win for Sterling.
Full Results
Main Card (Pay-Per-View)
Glover Teixeira def. Jan Blachowicz (c) — Submission (rear-naked choke) — R2, 3:02 — Light Heavyweight Title
Petr Yan def. Cory Sandhagen — Unanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) — Interim Bantamweight Title
Khamzat Chimaev def. Li Jingliang — Submission (D’Arce choke) — R1, 3:16 — Welterweight
Islam Makhachev def. Dan Hooker — Submission (kimura) — R1, 2:25 — Lightweight
Magomed Ankalaev def. Volkan Oezdemir — Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) — Light Heavyweight
Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+)
Alexander Volkov def. Marcin Tybura — Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) — Heavyweight
Albert Duraev def. Roman Kopylov — Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) — Middleweight
Ricky Glenn vs. Joaquim Silva — Majority Draw (28-28, 27-29, 28-28) — Lightweight
Tagir Ulanbekov def. Allan Nascimento — Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) — Flyweight
Bonuses & Awards
🥇 Performance of the Night: Glover Teixeira — $50,000 for the second-round rear-naked choke of Jan Blachowicz to claim the light-heavyweight title.
🥇 Performance of the Night: Khamzat Chimaev — $50,000 for the first-round D’Arce choke of Li Jingliang.
🥇 Performance of the Night: Islam Makhachev — $50,000 for the first-round kimura submission of Dan Hooker.
Records & Milestones
• Glover Teixeira, 42 years and 28 days old, became the second-oldest first-time UFC champion in promotion history (behind Randy Couture).
• Teixeira's nine-year, 23-fight UFC journey to the title was one of the longest in promotion history.
• Petr Yan claimed the interim bantamweight title to reset the post-DQ trajectory of his career.
• Khamzat Chimaev's first PPV main-card appearance after his 18-month COVID-19 layoff.
• Islam Makhachev's ninth consecutive UFC win — part of the climb to the lightweight title at UFC 280.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 267 is remembered as one of the most under-the-radar but historically significant UFC cards of 2021. The Teixeira title win was the emotional centerpiece; the broader card produced four major performance bonuses and the formal rise of Khamzat Chimaev and Islam Makhachev as top contenders.
Glover Teixeira's title reign was brief but historic. He lost the belt to Jiri Prochazka at UFC 275 in June 2022 by fifth-round rear-naked choke in a Fight of the Year nominee, and lost his retirement bout against Jamahal Hill at UFC 283 in January 2023. He retired with a 33-9 career record.
For Khamzat Chimaev, Islam Makhachev, and Magomed Ankalaev — all of whom won on the main card — UFC 267 was the launching pad for the next two years of their careers. Makhachev won the lightweight title at UFC 280 in October 2022. Ankalaev received a light-heavyweight title shot at UFC 282 (majority draw with Blachowicz). Chimaev extended his UFC win streak to seven.
FAQ
How old was Glover Teixeira when he won the title?
42 years and 28 days old. He was the second-oldest first-time UFC champion in promotion history, behind only Randy Couture. His nine-year, 23-fight UFC career before claiming the title was one of the longest in promotion history.
How did Teixeira finish Blachowicz?
Rear-naked choke at 3:02 of round two from a back-mount position. After losing round one, Teixeira found a level change at 2:30 of round two, brought Blachowicz to the canvas, and immediately worked into the back-mount. Blachowicz tapped within 32 seconds of the choke being secured.
What happened to Petr Yan after UFC 267?
Yan held the interim bantamweight title until the unification fight with Aljamain Sterling at UFC 273 in April 2022, which Sterling won by split decision. Yan disputed the result publicly. He fought Sterling a third time at UFC 280 in October 2022 (Sterling won by submission). Final Yan-Sterling series ledger: 3-0 Sterling.
Was Khamzat Chimaev's win really his first PPV main-card appearance?
Yes. Chimaev had debuted in July 2020 with three consecutive UFC FN finishes, then contracted COVID-19 in September 2020 — a case severe enough he publicly considered retirement. He was sidelined for 13 months. UFC 267 was his return and his first PPV main-card appearance.
How long did Teixeira's title reign last?
Just under seven months. Teixeira defended once unsuccessfully at UFC 275 in June 2022 against Jiri Prochazka — a fifth-round rear-naked choke loss in a Fight of the Year nominee where Teixeira was on the brink of winning by decision when Prochazka caught the submission. Teixeira retired after losing his retirement bout against Jamahal Hill at UFC 283 in January 2023.
How does UFC 267 compare to UFC 266?
UFC 267 drew approximately 400,000 PPV buys versus UFC 266 (750,000) five weeks earlier. The 350,000-buy drop reflected the move to Abu Dhabi and the absence of marquee American draws. UFC 267 was still a strong number for a non-marquee card with two title fights and produced perhaps the highest in-cage quality of any 2021 UFC PPV.
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