Indestructible Teixeira Strangles Santos

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Thiago Santos and Glover Teixeira face off tonight (Sat., Oct. 31, 2020) in a main event Light Heavyweight clash from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada at UFC Vegas 13. There are definite similarities between the two contenders, a pair of Brazilian veterans who most commonly end their bouts via raw violence. Furthermore, the stakes are equally high for each. Santos has to return from a devastating knee surgery and subsequent layoff and prove he’s still a contender, whereas Teixeira is putting together his final run at the title (with zero room for error or setbacks).

Man, this fight lived up to the hype in every way. Teixeira was dropped twice in really bad circumstances, but each time he went down, “Hands of Stone” managed to keep the wrestling going and land in top position, where he was far superior.

Round One

Santos showed hip feints and opened with a front kick. Santos lands hard with a right hook and swarms, rocking his foe and knocking him to the mat! Teixeira wrestles his way back into the fight, surviving some nasty elbows to the side of the head. Teixeira lands a slam and takes mount! Santos recovers half guard. Briefly back to mount, but Santos gets half guard back again. Teixeira drops some elbows. Santos recovers full guard, but Teixeira continues to chip away. “Hands of Stone” finishes the round in top position after nearly being finished early.

Round Two

Santos chops the lead leg then sticks a body kick to open the second. Teixeira times a double leg well and lands it. Teixeira consistently worked his foe from top position, while Santos seemed more focused on preventing the pass than escaping to his feet. Teixeira lands some hard shots from top position, eventually passes to side control with a bit over a minute remaining. Complete domination from the veteran for nearly the full five minutes, who mounts in the final ten seconds and locks in a rear naked choke! The bell saves Santos.

Round Three

Teixeira immediately attempts a takedown, but it’s denied, and Santos drops him immediately! Teixeira survives the initial onslaught and recovers half guard. Santos attacks with elbows from half guard. Santos gets too aggressive with his ground strikes, and it allows Teixeira to reverse his way into top position. Now Teixeira has Santos mount, and he locks up the rear naked choke a second time. There is no bell this time.

Result: Glover Teixeira defeats Thiago Santos via third-round rear naked choke

For complete UFC Vegas 13: “Santos vs. Teixeira” results and play-by-play, click HERE!