This weekend, the UFC returns to action with UFC 267, and despite the fact that this PPV is free on ESPN+, the UFC has still stacked the card, with two title fights and a host of other important bouts across numerous weight classes.

In the co-main event, former bantamweight champion Petr Yan takes on Cory Sandhagen for the interim bantamweight title and in the main event, light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz faces top contender Glover Teixeira for the 205-pound title.

Plus, on the undercard, we have two of the most exciting prospects in the sport competing with Islam Mahkachev facing Dan Hooker and Khamzat Chimaev taking on Li Jingliang. It’s a night of big fights and even bigger UFC betting opportunities at betting sites.

Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira UFC 267 Odds

FavoriteUnderdog
Jan Blachowicz, Glover Teixeira,

Odds via BetMGM and current as of publication. Check out our BetMGM sportsbook review and latest BetMGM promo codes..

Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira UFC 267 Predictions

Jan Blachowicz, the favorite on betting apps, is the classic jack-of-all-trades fighter. He is a highly competent kickboxer, wrestler and grappler, and the light heavyweight champion has proven to have good cardio, especially in the context of the division.

For much of his career though, Blachowicz was an also-ran in the division, never quite putting together enough wins to become a real title threat. Two years ago, all that changed when Blachowicz tapped into his “Legendary Polish Power” and started knocking opponents out, instead of out-pointing them. Now, Blachowicz is riding a five-fight win streak and looks to be just now hitting his stride as a fighter.

On the other side of the equation is Glover Teixeira, another jack-of-all-trades fighter who has already had one shot at the light heavyweight title, falling short to Jon Jones in 2014. Seven years later though, Teixeira has once again climbed the mountain, piecing together five wins in a row over excellent competition.

At his advanced age (Teixeira will be 42 on fight night), Teixeira is certainly not as good as he once was, but in recent years he has adjusted for his athletic decline by leaning much more heavily on his grappling game. A BJJ black belt, Teixeira has submitted three of his last five opponents, and he’s still more than a handful on the mat.

UFC 267 Best Bet: Blachowicz vs Teixeira

A few years ago, this would have been a much more competitive fight than it is right now. Though Teixeira is undoubtedly on a great run and is the deserving top contender in the division, Father Time remains undefeated, and Teixeira has looked noticeably slower in his last few outings.

Blachowicz is a highly disciplined fighter with solid takedown defense and I anticipate him using his speed advantage to ding Teixeira up on the feet, eventually securing a KO or TKO stoppage. Blachowicz by KO/TKO is currently +100 at FOX Bet, and I like that for a bet.

Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen UFC 267 Odds

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Peter Yan, Cory Sandhagen,

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook and current as of publication. Check out our Caesars sportsbook review and latest Caesars sportsbook promo codes..

Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen UFC 267 Betting Analysis

In the co-main event, Petr Yan looks to reclaim gold after losing his title via DQ earlier this year. Yan was originally supposed to rematch the man who took the title from him, Aljamain Sterling, but Sterling was forced out of the bout due to a lingering injury, and Sandhagen stepped in on short notice.

Simply put, Yan is one of the best fighters in the world today. Yan is a high-paced pressure fighter who starts slow but gets stronger as the fight goes on. For instance, though he lost his title via disqualification after he illegally kneed Sterling in the head in the fourth round, Sterling was down because by that point, Yan had started to overwhelm the now bantamweight champion with punches and takedowns.

Cory Sandhagen also works at a ridiculously high rate; “The Sandman” has no such issues with starting slow. Sandhagen will go to work almost immediately, using his length, jabs and knees to set the tone early. Where Sandhagen has faltered though is in the grappling department. Merely a serviceable wrestler, Sandhagen is much more capable on his feet and has, at times, looked vulnerable on the floor.

UFC 267 Best Bet: Yan vs Sandhagen

This is the most interesting fight on the card on Saturday. On the feet, Sandhagen possesses a decided physical advantage and can use his length to stymie Yan. But the question is, can Sandhagen avoid the clinch game and takedowns of Yan? My belief is that ultimately, he cannot, especially since he’s coming in on short notice.

I suspect Sandhagen will win the first round or two of the fight but Yan’s relentless pressure will eventually get to Sandhagen and the back half of the bout will be one-way traffic. Yan is the favorite at sportsbooks for a reason, and I like a bet on Yan by Decision at Given that, I also love a bet on Round Total Over 3.5 at -162 at FOX Bet.

Other Top UFC 267 Odds To Back

Islam Makhachev vs. Dan Hooker: In the featured undercard bout, the next great lightweight, Islam Makhachev takes on short-notice replacement Dan Hooker. Hooker is a scrappy and durable fighter, but he’s never been known for his wrestling and given the short-notice nature of this bout, he has not had much time to learn. Makhachev is looking to make a statemen,t so I like a small play on

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Li Jingliang: Chimaev was the breakout fighter of 2020 after picking up three dominant wins in the UFC in the span of two months; however, though Chimaev has certainly been getting a big promotional push, we still don’t know a ton about him as a fighter. We’re going to learn when he faces Jingliang, a durable, tough out for anyone. Chimaev is getting juiced like he’s already a world champion instead of an interesting prospect, so fading him with a bet on is worth speculation.

Parlay: Rounding out the main card we have a light heavyweight bout between Magomed Ankalaev and Volkan Oezdemir and a heavyweight bout between Alexander Volkov and Marcin Tybura. Both Ankalaev and Oezdemir are substantially better than their opponents (-300 and -275 respectively on FOX Bet) and should win handily, so I love parlaying the two big favorites down to a -122 price at FOX Bet.