'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
UFC 267 was undoubtedly one of 2021’s most highly anticipated events and, thankfully, the fighters on the show delivered in spades.
Taking place on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, UFC 267 featured two title fights, as well as plenty of other high-level clashes. Naturally, those clashes produced some big winners, including two new UFC titleholders and other fighters who are likely to become major superstars going forward.
So with fighters moving up the ladder – some firmly into title contention – here are the five biggest winners from UFC 267: Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira.
#5: Magomed Ankalaev – defeated Volkan Oezdemir in a UFC light heavyweight bout
Light heavyweight prospect Magomed Ankalaev was faced with the toughest test of his career to date last night in the form of Volkan Oezdemir.
‘No Time’ hadn’t fought since his KO loss to Jiri Prochazka last year but, being a former UFC title challenger, he was clearly an upgrade on Ankalaev’s previous opponents. However, judging by what happened in the octagon, you wouldn’t have known that.
Ankalaev basically outclassed Oezdemir from the off, dropping him in the first round. He then beat him in all areas despite his opponent’s dangerous reputation.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the win was that almost the entirety of the fight took place on the feet, where some observers might’ve given Oezdemir an advantage. That wasn’t the case, as Ankalaev showed that his striking is just as formidable as his grappling.
Ankalaev wasn’t able to pick up a finish and the fight wasn’t always the most exciting to watch. However, it definitely sent a message to the rest of the division that the Dagestani is absolutely for real.
He’s now on a seven-fight win streak. While Jiri Prochazka may have dibs on the next title shot in this division, the UFC should probably look to match Ankalaev with someone like Aleksandar Rakic to decide the next contender. Could we be looking at the UFC’s next Dagestani champion? Absolutely.
#4. Islam Makhachev – defeated Dan Hooker in a UFC lightweight bout
Islam Makhachev came into UFC 267 with perhaps more pressure on his shoulders than any other fighter. Riding an eight-fight win streak, he’d garnered a reputation as "the new Khabib”, and had looked phenomenal in his most recent fights.
However, the Dagestani had also never fought an opponent on the level of Dan Hooker. There seemed to be every chance for ‘The Hangman’ to pull off an upset.
When it came down to it, though, Makhachev proved that he’s definitely for real and that the hype he’s garnered is well-deserved. He took Hooker down, dominated him from the top and then submitted him with a kimura in just over two minutes.
This was a scarily one-sided display. While the comparisons between the two aren’t always fair, it’s easy to see why many fans view Makhachev as the heir to Khabib’s throne.
So can he win the UFC lightweight title in 2022? Based on this, there’s no reason why not. He’ll have to get through either Charles Oliveira or Dustin Poirier to do so but, on this form, he’s capable of beating anyone. Which would be the better fight? Probably Makhachev vs. Oliveira, but both sound awesome.
Either way, Makhachev deserves a UFC title shot after this showing, and hopefully he’ll get one soon.
#3. Khamzat Chimaev – defeated Li Jingliang in a UFC welterweight bout
After suffering a bad case of COVID-19 that forced him to take over a year away from the UFC, it was understandable why some fans were questioning what Khamzat Chimaev would bring to his fight with Li Jingliang.
Any fears around his future turned out to be thoroughly fruitless though, as ‘Borz’ absolutely dominated Jingliang en route to a first round submission win.
Chimaev didn’t absorb a single strike in a fight that was jaw-droppingly one-sided. He grabbed Jingliang, slammed him down in front of Dana White, and proceeded to beat him up before choking him unconscious.
When you consider that ‘The Leech’ was a solid, top-fifteen ranked fighter with wins over Santiago Ponzinibbio and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, it’s now impossible to deny that Chimaev is for real.
Is he a contender for the UFC welterweight title? Absolutely, although giving him a shot at it after his struggles to make weight might be risky.
The UFC would probably be best to match him with a top-ten ranked fighter next – maybe Gilbert Burns or Vicente Luque – and if he wins then, it’d be hard to deny him a crack at the title.
Either way, it seems like Chimaev vs. Kamaru Usman may be one of the most talked about fights of 2022.
#2. Petr Yan – defeated Cory Sandhagen to win the interim UFC bantamweight title
The last time we saw Petr Yan in action, he was still the undisputed UFC bantamweight champion. He probably should’ve come away from his fight with Aljamain Sterling with his title intact. However, an ill-advised illegal knee saw him lose the bout and the championship via disqualification.
Last night was initially expected to see a rematch between the two. With Sterling sidelined with injury, the UFC put together an interim title fight between Yan and Cory Sandhagen instead.
After that fight, there’s no disputing that Yan is probably still the best 135lber in the UFC. After adjusting following a tricky first round, he found his range and opened up on ‘The Sandman’, hurting him badly on a number of occasions.
While he couldn’t finish Sandhagen, ‘No Mercy’ came away from an action-packed fight as the clear-cut winner, claiming a unanimous decision after winning four out of five rounds.
So can Yan regain his title in the inevitable rematch with Sterling? Based on this, as well as their first meeting, it seems likely. However, it’s easy to forget that Sterling blew Sandhagen away in less than a round, which should be food for thought for doubters of ‘The Funk Master’.
Either way, for winning one of the best UFC title fights in recent memory, Yan is comfortably one of last night’s biggest winners.
#1. Glover Teixeira – defeated Jan Blachowicz to win the UFC light heavyweight title
Naturally, the biggest winner at UFC 267 was Glover Teixeira. Not only did the Brazilian veteran choke out Jan Blachowicz to win the UFC light heavyweight title, but he did it at the age of 42. This makes him the oldest first-time UFC champion in history.
The fight was surprisingly one-sided in favor of Teixeira, who could never have imagined it’d be as easy as it was. The first round saw him take Blachowicz down and unsurprisingly, he dominated him from the top although he couldn’t find a way to finish him.
The second round, though, started more promisingly for Blachowicz. He landed some solid jabs to Teixeira, forcing him backwards. However, when the Brazilian landed a clubbing left hook to stun him, things quickly went downhill for the champ.
Teixeira took him down, passed to mount and, moments later, strangled the Polish fighter to win the UFC light heavyweight title for the first time.
Whether Teixeira can get past the explosive attack of top contender Jiri Prochazka in what will likely be his first title defense is another thing entirely. For now, the Brazilian has pulled off a true fairytale story – and should be considered UFC 267’s biggest winner.
