Prior to Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 28 in Brazil, Glover Teixeira was promised a title shot if he looked impressive in his bout against Ryan Bader.
Following a first-round knockout where Teixeira put Bader away with a quick right-left combination, the Brazilian, who’s on a 20-fight win streak, found out that the aforementioned promise will be fulfilled.
UFC executive Marshall Zelaznik stated at the post-fight press conference that UFC president Dana White confirmed that Teixeira will receive the next shot at the belt against the winner of the upcoming fight between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson.
“Yeah that’s confirmed,” Zelaznik said. “Dana’s confirmed it, Joe (Silva) confirmed it, Glover gets the next shot.”
Jones will face Gustafsson in just a few weeks at UFC 165, and the winner of that fight will take on Teixeira to defend the light heavyweight belt.
Teixeira has been on a tear since joining the UFC in 2012, winning all five fights inside the Octagon and finishing four of those opponents inside the distance.
With the title shot now looming overhead, Teixeira is ecstatic to face whoever has the title, but he would like to face the man currently ranked as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.
When breaking down the UFC 165 main event, Teixeira believes that’s who he will face when it’s all said and done.
“To tell you the truth I don’t have any preference, my dream is to get the belt,” Teixeira said. “But I believe Jon Jones will win, that’s the way I see it, and I definitely prefer him as well in a certain manner because Jon Jones has a better name, he’s been a champ for a long time, so whoever goes to face him has to be very focused, very well trained, and to look at his game to make him disappear.
“Obviously the knockout power, I believe I have it and if I hit him, he’s going to go down.”
Teixeira can now travel to Toronto in a few weeks and watch the main event with a vested interest knowing that he’s going to face the winner with the UFC light heavyweight title on the line.
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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