UFC returns to pay-per-view this weekend with a card that boasts two championship fights, and a host of intriguing match-ups. Jan Blachowicz defends his UFC Light Heavyweight championship against the resurgent Glover Teixeira. The co-main event is an Interim Bantamweight championship bout, with Cory Sandhagen stepping in to face Petr Yan, replacing full champion Aljamain Sterling who withdrew due to a neck injury.
The undercard features Khabib Nurmagomedov’s friend and training partner Islam Makhachev in a lightweight bout against the ever-exciting Dan Hooker, while heavyweight striker Alexander Volkov faces the in-form Marcin Tybura.
When: Saturday 30th October. The prelims are expected to kick off at 3:30pm UK time, with the main card to follow at 7pm.
Where: Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi
How To Watch: The early prelims are available on UFC Fight Pass, before the BT Sport coverage starts at 5pm.
Tale Of The Tape:
Blachowicz
Place Of Birth: Cieszyn, Poland
Age: 38
Years As A Pro: 14
Height: 6’2”
Reach: 78”
Stance: Orthodox
KO Percentage: 28%
Teixeira
Place Of Birth: Sobrália, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Age: 42
Years As A Pro: 19
Height: 6’2”
Reach: 76”
Stance: Orthodox
KO Percentage: 56%
Last Fight:
Blachowicz is coming off a decision win in a Champion vs Champion superfight with Middleweight king Israel Adesanya in March. The Pole handed Adesanya the first loss of his career at UFC 259.
Teixeira’s last outing was a submission win over Thiago Santos, in which he recovered several barrages of heavy shots to turn the tide. The fight earned the Brazilian several ‘Comeback Of The Year’ awards, and set him on course for his second shot at the UFC title.
What They Say:
Blachowicz: “I’m expecting the best Glover ever because maybe this is his last fight, maybe his last chance for a title shot, so I have to be ready for the best Glover ever.” (Just Scrap Radio)
Teixeira: “My strategy is to impose my game. We can’t give away too many details, how it’s going to be, what he does and how we'll work around it. But it’s to pressure all the time.” (Ag Fight)
Main Card:
UFC Light Heavyweight Title - Jan Blachowicz (c) vs Glover Teixeira
UFC Interim Bantamweight Title - Cory Sandhagen vs Petr Yan
Islam Makhachev vs. Dan Hooker
Alexander Volkov vs. Marcin Tybura
Li Jingliang vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Volkan Oezdemir
Prelims:
Amanda Ribas vs. Virna Jandiroba
Ricardo Ramos vs. Zubaira Tukhugov
Albert Duraev vs. Roman Kopylov
Shamil Gamzatov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
Makwan Amirkhani vs. Lerone Murphy
Hu Yaozong vs. Alen Amedovski
Magomed Mustafaev vs. Damir Ismagulov
Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Allan Nascimento
Main Event Odds via Betfred: Blachowicz 1/3 Teixeira 9/4
