This fight has been announced and postponed so many times that it’s hard to believe what’s real anymore.
According to Ariel Helwani on UFC Tonight, Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira will finally happen at UFC 171 in Dallas on March 15, 2014. The UFC had previously announced the match for both UFC 169 and UFC 170, and it finally lands a solid date…barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Jones has been the champion since early 2011 when he blasted through Mauricio Rua to take the title. He has since defended the title six times over competition such as Rashad Evans, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida.
His latest title win came in a close bout against Alexander Gustafsson, and UFC fans are clamoring for a rematch in the near future. Of course, Gustafsson can re-earn a title shot with a win over Jimi Manuwa next year. They will fight around the same time as Jones and Teixeira.
Teixeira is undefeated in the UFC at 5-0, beating guys like Ryan Bader, James Te Huna and Jackson. He has shown a great game that has seen him finish four of his five UFC opponents.
This battle offers an interesting matchup. Jones is a long, lanky wrestler with unorthodox striking that has been an unsolvable puzzle. Teixeira is a power boxer with a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and great experience.
Teixeira has trained in the U.S. for a long time, as he linked up with John Hackleman and Chuck Liddell earlier in his career. That kind of backing gives him some hope in taking down the seemingly unbeatable Jones.
Jones is part of the prestigious Greg Jackson camp, which has led him to his overall success. He trains with Andrei Arlovski, Travis Browne and John Dodson, among others.
Jones vs. Teixeira is the only fight that has been announced for UFC 171 so far. The pay-per-view card promises to be a solid draw among UFC fans.
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