UFC 267: Glover Teixeira vs Jan Blachowicz Picks, Odds, and Predictions

Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira fight Saturday in UFC 267 at the UFC Apex. Blachowicz enters this fight with a 28-8 record and has won 39 percent of his fights by decision. Teixeira enters this fight with a 32-7 record and has won 56 percent of his fights by knockout.

Blachowicz has won five fights and is coming off a March win over Israel Adesanya. Blachowicz is averaging 3.59 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 49 percent. Blachowicz is averaging 1.18 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 53 percent. Blachowicz is coming off a decision win at UFC 259 where he landed 184 total strikes and produced three takedowns. Blachowicz now looks to defend his belt for the second straight fight. A black belt in BJJ, Blachowicz is a scrappy Polish fighter who is willing to push the pace and trade on the feet if needed. Blachowicz can take a punch and keep coming forward, and he has decent defense on the feet despite his aggressive style. Blachowicz is also a solid takedown artist who has a strong ground and pound and nine career submission victories. Blachowicz also has above average cardio that’s allowed him to be effective through all rounds and has helped him win 11 of his 16 career decisions. This will be Blachowicz’s fourth career fight in Nevada.

Teixeira has won five straight fights and is coming off a November win over Anthony Smith. Teixeira is averaging 3.75 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 47 percent. Teixeira is averaging 2.04 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 40 percent. Teixeira is coming off a submission win at UFC on ESPN 17 and takes his first fight of the year. While now 42 years old, Teixeira is showing there’s more than enough left in the tank to challenge this division. Teixeira has proven his versatility over his career, as he lands accurate and powerful punches that allow him to fight standing up, mixes in leg kicks well, and he’s a successful takedown artist with eight submission victories under his belt. With a deep background in Kajukenbo, there’s nothing Teixeira can’t do in the octagon, and he’s far from your typical heavyweight who just throws haymakers and hopes to knock the lights out. Teixeira isn’t going to produce knockouts these days, but his work rate is impressive, and he controls the canvas with vicious ground and pound. This will be Teixeira’s fifth career fight in Nevada.

Blachowicz should be the favorite here, as he’s the younger, faster fighter with a reach advantage and has the power edge as well. Teixeira isn’t getting any younger, he’s slower than he was in the past, and he’s not as dangerous in terms of power. With that said, how many times are we going to write off Teixeira and have him surprise us? Teixeira is riding a five-fight winning streak for a reason. There’s something left in the tank still.

Give me Teixeira and the big plus money.