The UFC is finally back with an amazing card after a string of rough Fight Night cards
that killed the UFC hype a bit. The October pay-per-view has an arsenal of great title fights and
contender fights to cover fight fans this weekend. The best part is that the card is free for any
ESPN+ subscribers since UCF 268 will be the following week. Who said a free pay-per-view
even is bad?
UFC 267 is a unique card since only one sole American fighter will be fighting. Most
fighters will be from Russia, making this practically a Russian UFC takeover. Two amazing
fights on the main card before the two Championships are Dan Hooker vs Islam Makhachev and
Li Jingliang vs Khamzat Chimaev. Hooker sits at the 6th spot in Lightweight rankings and
Makhachev at 5th. The winner of this fight will have their hands closer to a title fight, behind the
winner of next week’s Michael Chandler and Justin Gathje fight. Makhachev has received
tremendous praise from one of the all-time greats, Khabib Nurmagomedov, as he tells fans that
he will be better than Khabib himself. Hooker is bouncing back from a great fight last month and
wants back into the top 5 in rankings. Chimaev and Jingliang are fighting for a top 10 spot in the
welterweight division. Jingliang is the 11th ranked welterweight and Chimaev is a rising
superstar looking to make his name even bigger. Chimaev has come into the UFC with a BANG
with two fights in back to back weeks and only absorbing only two strikes in his three UFC
fights. Jingliang will be his toughest task, but Chimaev will be the heavy favorite.
These will lead into our first title fight for the night, the Bantamweight Interim
Championship with former champion Petr Yan fighting a top contender Cory Sandhagen who is
stepping in for current champion Aljamain Sterling who pulled out with a neck injury. This is a
fight fans have been craving. Yan is considered of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world
with his crazy skillset. Yan was beating Sterling before his illegal knee caused him to the lose the
belt, so many consider him still the real champion. Sandhagen is coming off a loss to T.J.
Dillashaw, who couldn’t step in due to a surgery. That was a split decision fight where majority
of fans said Sandhagen won the fight. It worked out perfectly for him now that he has a chance to
prove he belongs. Sandhagen is 5’11 and Yan stands at 5’7 so the height difference can make
things interesting and potentially could lead to an upset win for Sandhagen, but Yan could easily
dominate and show the 135-pound division who’s boss.
Finally, the Light-Heavyweight Championship Will main even the night as current Polish
champion Jan Blachowicz will be facing the ageless wonder Glover Teixeira. Blachowicz will be
returning for the first time since his impressive victory over the challenging Middleweight
champion Israel Adesanya. Jan proved that he was still elite at 38 years old. The funny thing is,
he will not be the oldest fighter in the ring that fight. Teixeira will be coming in as a 43-year-old
veteran riding a five-fight win streak. His resilience at his age has been wonderous. He shows
that age does not matter in this game. Both men will be looking to grow their legacy. A win for
Blachowicz will boost his reign and a win for Teixeira will finally get the gold he’s been chasing
for years.
The card in general will be fun as the fighters are back in Abu Dhabi. Besides the fights
mentioned, all fights will have fun fighters to watch and deserve your attention this weekend. My
predictions for the main fights will be Blachowicz by KO, Sandhagen by decision, Makhachev
by decision, and Chimaev by submission. None will be pure domination, but this will be a great
hype builder leading to the STACKED UFC 268 card coming the week after. I’m glad to finally
be excited again for a UFC weekend.
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Devin Hall is a columnist for MESPORTS digital. A University Louisville graduate who loves good music, good games and good times. He can be reached at DHall@maineventsports101.com. Follow him on Twitter @Mista_Hall25