UFC light heavyweight title contender Glover Teixeira believes divisional champion Jon Jones will take out Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 on Saturday, setting up a title tilt between them.
Speaking with MMA Fighting, the Brazilian slugger expressed his desire to take the 205-pound crown from “Bones:”
“Jon Jones is at the top for a long time, can’t say enough about him,” he said. “But I have to take this belt from him. Every phenom goes down one day … My style may look like Rampage’s, but you can be sure that I’m hungrier than Rampage to win,” he said. “This is my moment. I’m very happy for this opportunity and I will get this belt.”
Shortly after Teixeira knocked out Ryan Bader at UFC Fight Night 27 earlier this month, Jones likened Teixeira’s fighting style to that of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson:
I think he’s a lot like rampage just with better grappling “@jameskealy1: @JonnyBones what do you think of Glover?”
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) September 5, 2013
Regardless of any similarities between Teixeira and the ex-UFC champ, who Jones holds a win over, the heavy-handed Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has won 20 in a row, including five wins (four stoppages) inside the Octagon.
However, UFC President Dana White said on Thursday that UFC heavyweight contender Daniel Cormier will “probably” get the next shot at Jones, if the champ wins on Saturday, and “DC” defeats Roy Nelson at UFC 166 (via Bloody Elbow).
Therefore, a potential Jones vs. Teixeira showdown could be on hold if Cormier wins in convincing fashion next month.
Meanwhile, Jones has a chance to break Tito Ortiz’s UFC light heavyweight record of five consecutive title defenses if he can get past Gustafsson on the 21st.
Will Teixeira be the man to end Jones’ reign atop the light heavyweight division or will Gustafsson, or possibly even Cormier, beat him to it?
John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.
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