Jan Blachowicz is set to attempt the second defence of his light heavyweight championship on September 4th. at UFC 266 — drawing one-time title challenger, veteran finisher, Glover Teixeira. As of writing a location or venue for the showcase has yet to be determined by the UFC.
Per UFC president, Dana White, as reported by ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto — Blachowicz and Teixeira will match up at the September 4th. pay-per-view event, with both men looking to extend their winning sprees to six fights consecutively.
Headlining UFC 259 in March as part of a championship tripleheader, Blachowicz rounded out the event — lodging his first successful defence of the 205-pound crown via a unanimous decision win over Israel Adesanya. With the eye-catching triumph, Blachowicz prevented Adesanya from becoming a two-weight UFC champion held simultaneously, adding to middleweight spoils.
Most recently featuring at UFC Vegas 13 in September, Minas Gerais veteran, Teixeira earned his second tilt at light heavyweight gold via a third-round rear-naked choke over fellow Brazilian, Thiago Santos in a main event slot.
Striking gold in somewhat of a career resurgence, Polish finisher, Blachowicz took co-headlining honours on ‘Fight Island’ in September at UFC 253, stopping two-time title chaser, Dominick Reyes with a massive second-round knockout.
Prior to his win over Reyes, Blachowicz had managed to stop two-time opponent, Corey Anderson with a similarly devastating first-round knockout at UFC Fight Night Rio Rancho in February of last year, adding to a split decision win over Jacare Souza, and a stunning knockout stoppage over former middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold.
Teixeira, 41, will make his twenty-first Octagon walk against Blachowicz — having already dropped an April 2014 title challenge to then gold holder, Jon Jones. In the time since, Teixeira has managed to lodge a further ten professional wins.
Enjoying a certain purple patch akin to Blachowicz recently, Teixeira stopped both Santos, and in particularly devastating fashion, Anthony Smith — adding to wins over common opposition, Nikita Krylov, and a pair of submission successes against both Ion Cutelaba and Karl Roberson.
