It’s Teixeira’s first chance (kind of) at the UFC light heavyweight title since he fought Jon Jones in 2014.
Glover Teixeira will be on standby in case Israel Adesanya or Jan Blachowicz cannot make their light heavyweight title fight at UFC 259 next month.
Teixeira, 41, volunteered to be a backup fighter for the title fight last month and confirmed this week that he will be weighing in on March 6th.
“I’ll be backup and will have to go there and make weight,” Teixeira told MMA Fighting.
Having somewhat of a resurgence in his UFC career, Teixeira has won his last five UFC appearances. Four of those wins have come by stoppage, with Teixeira finishing top contenders Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos last year. The Brazilian’s last loss came to current Bellator contender Corey Anderson by decision in 2018.
“It sucks, I’ve never rooted for anyone to get hurt, but I’ll be rooting for an injury there,” Teixeira (jokingly) said last month. “I would have to do a full camp so, even if I have to wait, at least I did a camp, I won’t lose rhythm… COVID is complicated, you really have to pull out if you catch it.”
UFC 259 takes place on March 6th at the promotion’s APEX facility in Las Vegas. Adesanya vs. Blachowicz will headline the card, as Adesanya looks to become the first simultaneous middleweight and light heavyweight champion in UFC history.