The UFC light heavyweight contender picture could get a lot clearer after the promotion’s next event in Brazil when Glover Teixeira takes on Ryan Bader in the main event of UFC Fight Night 28 on September 4.
Teixeira has been tearing through the competition ever since coming to the UFC, winning four fights in a row while climbing into the top five of the divisional rankings.
Now he has a chance—with an impressive victory over Bader—to earn a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title.
“Dana (White) and Joe (Silva) have confirmed that with a strong victory by Glover (Teixeira) he probably gets the winner of the Jon Jones/(Alexander Gustafsson) fight,” UFC executive Marshall Zelaznik relayed at the UFC 163 post-fight press conference on Saturday night. “So Glover’s got an opportunity to go for that belt with a big win.”
Teixeira has already been on the radar for a potential title shot with his strong performances thus far in the Octagon, but if he can run through Bader in his home country in September, he will all but lock up the top spot in the division.
It also bodes well for Teixeira that he’s also landed on the radar of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who mentioned the Brazilian fighter during the UFC’s World Tour media event in New York earlier this week.
“I’ve got a lot to prove still,” Jones said about the light heavyweight division. “I’m not looking past the challenge here, but Glover Teixeira is a guy I’ve got my sights set on.”
Jones has his own challenge ahead at UFC 165 on September 21 when he faces current top contender Alexander Gustafsson. Should he get past that obstacle, he would own the record for most title defenses ever at light heavyweight in the UFC, but Jones’ mission in the division isn’t done yet.
Teixeira is an intriguing matchup for Jones, should he remain champion after UFC 165, but right now their fight is only hypothetical until both win their upcoming fights.
Teixeira is up first at UFC Fight Night 28, which will air on Sept 4 on Fox Sports 1, when he faces Bader in the main event preceding the debut of the new season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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