Aussie Champ Opetaia to Face Glanton in Zuffa Boxing Debut

Australia's cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia takes on Brandon Glanton in his first fight under the new Zuffa Boxing promotion.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Australia's only current male world champion, Jai Opetaia, will make his U.S. debut when he takes on Brandon Glanton in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 8 (Monday, Mar. 9 in Australia). The cruiserweight bout will be Opetaia's first fight since signing with Zuffa Boxing, the newly created promotion headed by UFC mogul Dana White and Saudi powerhouse Turki Alalshikh.

Why it matters

Opetaia is by far the biggest recruit to sign with Zuffa Boxing so far, and the fight will be a significant part of the promotion's future plans. The bout also marks Opetaia's first fight outside of Australia, as he looks to further cement his status as the man to beat at cruiserweight.

The details

Opetaia, a southpaw knockout artist with a 29-0 record, will be looking to defend his IBF cruiserweight world title and the Ring Magazine belt, as well as compete for the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight title. His opponent, Brandon Glanton, has a 21-3 record and is coming off a stoppage win over Marcus Browne in October.

  • The bout takes place on Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Las Vegas, which is Monday, March 9 in Australia.
  • Opetaia last fought in December 2025, stopping Huseyin Cinkara in the eighth round on home soil.
  • Glanton was last in action in October 2025, when he stopped Marcus Browne in six rounds in Lagos, Nigeria.

The players

Jai Opetaia

Australia's only current male world champion, an undefeated cruiserweight knockout artist with a 29-0 record.

Brandon Glanton

Opetaia's opponent, a cruiserweight with a 21-3 record who is coming off a stoppage win over Marcus Browne.

Dana White

The UFC mogul who is the co-founder of the new Zuffa Boxing promotion.

Turki Alalshikh

The Saudi powerhouse who is the co-founder of the new Zuffa Boxing promotion.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The winner of the Opetaia-Glanton bout will likely be in line for bigger fights and title unification bouts in the cruiserweight division under the Zuffa Boxing banner.

The takeaway

This fight represents a major opportunity for Jai Opetaia to showcase his skills on the global stage and cement his status as one of the top cruiserweights in the world, as he makes his debut under the new Zuffa Boxing promotion.