Jai Opetaia became the first champion in the history of Zuffa Boxing on Sunday, March 8 in Las Vegas.
All three judges scored the fight 119-106, ruling in favor of Opetaia over Brandon Glanton.
Zuffa Boxing is led by UFC CEO Dana White and Saudi dealmaker Turki Alalshikh.
There was a cloud around the main event after the IBF backtracked on its plan to sanction the fight. Jai Opetaia holds the IBF cruiserweight title. Well, at least temporarily.
The IBF has said it will strip Opetaia of the IBF cruiserweight title if he goes through with the now-unsanctioned bout against Glanton and fights for Zuffa Boxing’s new title belt.
The IBF clearly rejected that idea — and the idea of Zuffa's belt being in the spotlight — while abandoning the fight. At a minimum, that now means Opetaia and Glanton will face off in an unsanctioned bout.
Opetaia also holds The Ring magazine's cruiserweight title belt.
Opetaia, a 30-year-old Australian, improves to 30-0 with 23 KOs. Glanton, 34, falls to 21-4 with 18 KOs.
Jai Opetaia vs. Brandon Glanton results
Round 1: The fighters spent most of the first round feeling each other out early.
Round 2: Glanton spent part of the round cutting off the ring, but Opetaia stole the round at the end.
Round 3: Both fighters continue to get a feel for one another. The fighters spent part of the fight tangled up together and being separated by the referee.
Round 4: Opetaia managed to get into a groove in the round and had some success landing some shots in the round. He may start pulling away from Glanton here.
Round 5: Opetaia lands a right uppercut that does some damage to Glanton. Glanton appeared to be leaning into his opponenet after that shot. He hit Opetaia below the belt, causing a brief delay in the final seconds of the round. Opetaia landed a fight-high 33 punches in the round.
Round 6: Glanton had a point deducted in the round for holding Opetaia. It was the first time he was called for holding in his career.
Round 7: Glanton called for a low blow for a second time in the fight. The fight was delayed. Glanton had another point deducted. The official has been heavily involved in the fight tonight. Through the first seven rounds, Opetaia had landed 144 punches to Glanton's 76.
Round 8: Opetaia continues to dominate the fight. Unlikely that Glanton can do anything to win this fight now, outside of a knockout.
Round 9: Glanton's corner explains where he stands in the fight and that he needs a knockout to win it.
Round 10: Opetaia landed multiple power shots in the round. Glanton managed to land some punches above the belt but Opetaia did enough to claim the round.
Round 11: The official deducted a point from Opetaia for holding Glanton during the round. Glanton displayed a more energized effort in the round.
Round 12: Opetaia continued to land successful uppercuts throughout the fight. Something that worked for him all night. A left hand was delivered to Glanton in the round that shook him up.
Ricardo Salas vs. Jesus Saracho result
Salas earned a TKO victory 2:05 into the eighth round. The referee stopped the fight after Saracho was not able to show enough to keep the fight going. Salas has not lost his last nine fights.
Adan Palma vs. Pablo Rubio results
Pablo Rubio earned a unanimous decision victory in the featherweight fight, despite being knocked down twice in the fight by Adan Palma. A surprising result for some, but Rubio did enough to not only stay in the fight but convince the judges as well.
How to watch Jai Opetaia vs. Brandon Glanton
- Time: 9 p.m. ET (main card), 6 p.m. ET (prelims)
- Where: Meta Apex in Las Vegas.
- Stream: Paramount+ in the United States at $8.99 per month.
Vlad Panin vs. Shinard Bunch results
Vlad Panin earned a TKO victory in the welterweight fight after the referee stopped the action.
Joshua Juarez vs. Jardae Anderson results
Joshua Juarez earned a heavyweight win by unanimous decision. Juarez remains undefeated at 15-0 as a result.
Jaycob Ramos vs. Ethan Perez results
The featherweight fight finished in a majority draw. Perez dropped Ramos with a left hand in the second round before Ramos returned the knockdown with a big hook in the third round.
Brady Ochoa vs. Adrian Serrano results
The lightweight fight between Brady Ochoa and Adrian Serrano finished in a majority draw. Ochoa pushed the pace in the fight, while Serrano had some moments of his own in the fight.
Emiliano Alvarado vs. Erick Rosado result
Alvarado earned a unanimous decision victory after dropping Rosado with a crisp left hook in Round 4. Alvarado controlled the featherweight fight the rest of the way and dominated the scorecards and earning the decisive win.
Jai Opetaia vs. Brandon Glanton predictions
Brent Brookhouse, CBS Sports: Ultimately, Opetaia is simply the better fighter -- the best in the world in the division, no less. And it is likely too tall a task for Glanton to suddenly step up his game to a level he's never shown before…Prediction: Opetaia by TKO, Round 10.
Anatoly Pimentel, BetMGM: Opetaia is currently at his physical peak, and I don’t see anyone besides Noel Mikaelian and Gilberto Ramirez pushing him to his full limit and actually giving him a competitive fight. Prediction: Opetaia by unanimous decision.
