RIO DE JANEIRO — Phil Davis is undefeated against Brazilians in the UFC, but light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira wants to end this streak on Saturday night.
Teixeira is set to collide with Davis in the co-main event of UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 25, and he’s hoping to beat “Mr. Wonderful,” who defeated Rogerio Nogueira, Wagner Prado, Vinny Magalhaes and Lyoto Machida inside the Octagon.
“The only way to change this is going there and facing this,” Teixeira told the media during a pre-fight workout at Maracana stadium on Thursday. “He has beaten a lot of Brazilians, but I will end this with a knockout.”
It’s no secret that Teixeira wants to keep the fight standing, because he’s aware of Davis’ wrestling skills.
“I trained a lot for this,” he said. “I have to stop his wrestling. If I don’t stop it, I will lose. I’ve trained a lot for this, and I believe in my wrestling. Phil Davis moves backwards before going for a takedown. But I have a really good jiu-jitsu. There’s no way out for him.
“I always go for the knockout in every fight. There’s no such thing as ‘studying Phil Davis.’”
Coming off a unanimous decision loss to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, Teixeira wants to make another run to the title. A win over Davis won’t be enough to get there faster, though.
“I don’t think this win will get me closer to the title,” Teixeira said. “I believe I will have to make more fights before (fighting for the title again).”
RIO DE JANEIRO — Phil Davis is undefeated against Brazilians in the UFC, but light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira wants to end this streak on Saturday night.
Teixeira is set to collide with Davis in the co-main event of UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 25, and he’s hoping to beat “Mr. Wonderful,” who defeated Rogerio Nogueira, Wagner Prado, Vinny Magalhaes and Lyoto Machida inside the Octagon.
“The only way to change this is going there and facing this,” Teixeira told the media during a pre-fight workout at Maracana stadium on Thursday. “He has beaten a lot of Brazilians, but I will end this with a knockout.”
It’s no secret that Teixeira wants to keep the fight standing, because he’s aware of Davis’ wrestling skills.
“I trained a lot for this,” he said. “I have to stop his wrestling. If I don’t stop it, I will lose. I’ve trained a lot for this, and I believe in my wrestling. Phil Davis moves backwards before going for a takedown. But I have a really good jiu-jitsu. There’s no way out for him.
“I always go for the knockout in every fight. There’s no such thing as ‘studying Phil Davis.’”
Coming off a unanimous decision loss to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, Teixeira wants to make another run to the title. A win over Davis won’t be enough to get there faster, though.
“I don’t think this win will get me closer to the title,” Teixeira said. “I believe I will have to make more fights before (fighting for the title again).”