Dan Hooker only managed to get a flight out of New Zealand at the last minute ahead of UFC 266. The Legend FC veteran still managed to beat Nasrat Haqparast by unanimous decision.
Hooker won’t be heading home any time soon. He has agreed to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 267, replacing the injured Rafael Dos Anjos.
For Hooker (21-10) it will be the second time fighting in Abu Dhabi this year. He dropped a decision to Michael Chandler at UFC 257 in January.
Makhachev (20-1) is riding an eight fight winning streak and has not lost a fight since 2015. He is currently ranked at #5 while his opponent is #6.
As previously announced the interim bantamweight title will be on the line at the Etihad Arena. Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen will face off for the belt at UFC 267.
Yan was in need of a new opponent after Aljamain Sterling withdrew. He will now face Sandhagen at the Etihad Arena on October 30th.
Yan was disqualified after landing an illegal knee on Sterling at UFC 259, losing his title in the process. He will have to put vengeance on the backburner after the American withdrew from the rematch.
In his place steps Sandhagen. The #3 ranked bantamweight is coming off a split decision loss to TJ Dillashaw at UFC Vegas 32.
Meanwhile Jingliang Li will be back in action on October 30th. The Chinese welterweight is set to face Khamzat Chimaev in Abu Dhabi.
The UFC held three shows in Abu Dhabi in January but the recent cards have all taken place in the US. Since the start of the pandemic the country has established itself as a regular venue for the octagon.
This card will be headlined by a light heavyweight title fight. Jan Błachowicz puts his strap on the line against Glover Teixeira.
UFC 267, Abu Dhabi, October 30th
Jan Blachowicz (c) vs. Glover Teixeira (For light heavyweight title)
Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen (For interim lightweight title)
Islam Makhachev vs. Dan Hooker (Lightweight)
Amanda Ribas vs. Virna Jandiroba (Strawweight)
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Volkan Oezdemir (Light Heavyweight)
Alexander Volkov vs. Marcin Tybura (Heavyweight)
Ricardo Ramos vs. Zubaira Tukhugov (Featherweight)
Damir Ismagulov vs. Magomed Mustafaev (Lightweight)
Alen Amedovski vs. Hu Yaozong (Middleweight)
Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Allan Nascimento (Flyweight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk vs. Shamil Gamzatov (Light Heavyweight)
Jingliang Li vs. Khamzat Chimaev (Welterweight)
