Opetaia Dominates Glanton in Zuffa Boxing Debut

Australian southpaw Jai Opetaia cruises to wide decision victory over Brandon Glanton in cruiserweight title matchup.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Jai Opetaia, the Ring cruiserweight champion, easily outclassed Brandon Glanton in their 12-round main event at Zuffa Boxing's event at the UFC's Meta Apex complex in Las Vegas. Opetaia won by scores of 119-106 on all three scorecards, shutting out Glanton despite the challenger's toughness. The IBF declined to sanction the bout as a title fight, but Opetaia still defended his Ring belt and won the first Zuffa Boxing championship in any division.

Why it matters

Opetaia's dominant performance in his Zuffa Boxing debut establishes him as a rising star in the cruiserweight division. The bout also marks the first Zuffa Boxing title awarded, signaling the promotion's intent to make an impact in the sport of boxing.

The details

Opetaia, a 30-year-old southpaw, controlled the fight from the opening bell, landing a variety of power punches that kept the game but outmatched Glanton on the defensive throughout. Glanton, who entered the bout ranked 10th by The Ring and 15th by the IBF, was unable to mount any sustained offense against the superior Opetaia. The referee deducted points from both fighters, with Glanton losing two for holding and a low blow, while Opetaia lost one for holding.

  • The fight took place on Sunday, March 9, 2026 at the Meta Apex, UFC's performance complex in Las Vegas.
  • Opetaia and Glanton had their final pre-fight press conference at the nearby MGM Grand just a couple hours before the bout.

The players

Jai Opetaia

The 30-year-old Australian southpaw is the current Ring cruiserweight champion and won the first Zuffa Boxing title in any division with his dominant performance.

Brandon Glanton

The 34-year-old Atlanta native entered the fight ranked 10th by The Ring and 15th by the IBF, but was thoroughly outclassed by Opetaia despite displaying toughness throughout the 12-round contest.

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What they’re saying

“My coach isn't happy. It was all right. I knew Brandon was gonna bring it. I knew it was gonna be a hard fight and I knew he was tough as nails.”

— Jai Opetaia (Max Kellerman)

What’s next

The IBF indicated it would strip Opetaia of its cruiserweight title if he fought for the Zuffa Boxing belt, so his status as the IBF champion remains in question.

The takeaway

Opetaia's dominant victory in his Zuffa Boxing debut establishes him as a rising force in the cruiserweight division, while also signaling the new promotion's intent to make an impact in the sport of boxing by crowning its first champion.