Saturday night, UFC 179 marked the UFC’s return to both pay-per-view and the country of Brazil. The card was headlined by a featherweight championship thriller in Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes, which turned out to be the only really good fight on the paid portion of the card.
The co-main event was a light heavyweight scrap that featured Brazilian Glover Teixeira and American Phil Davis. After three plodding rounds that was constantly showered in boos from the fans, Davis took a unanimous decision over the former title challenger.
Teixeira’s loss marked his second in a row, with the first coming at the hands of UFC champ Jon Jones. It puts him in a must-win situation next time out, as losing streaks in the UFC ultimately spell the end of one’s tenure with the company.
What’s next for Teixeira? Here are three opponents that could be in his immediate future.
Jimi Manuwa-Mauricio Rua loser
The next UFC event to grace Brazil possesses a main event in the form of Jimi Manuwa vs. Mauricio Rua. It is a high stakes bout for both men, with the winner moving closer to the title picture and the loser scrambling to get back to the win column.
Does that not sound like what Teixeira just went through last night?
Both men would stylistically match up well with Teixeira. Both men are vicious strikers that would entertain Teixeira on the feet.
Though Rua has slowed down a step, he has shown in fights like the one he had with James Te Huna that he can still add to highlight reels with his KO ability. A scrap with Teixeira would be a great addition to any card, especially a card in Brazil.
Then you have Manuwa, who is a young bull that has beat up the UFC light heavyweight division for the most part. His different standup style would make for an interesting contrast with that of Teixeira.
Rafael Cavalcante
Speaking of fellow Brazilians, former Strikeforce champion Rafael Cavalcante is another guy who would match up well with Teixeira, as both men are strikers that bring entertainment to the cage regularly.
Cavalcante‘s UFC tenure has been up and down so far, but there is no doubt he is a talented fighter. His win over Igor Pokrajac in the UFC reminded us that he can really be something special when given the opportunity to shine.
Again, matching him up with Teixeira, a fellow Brazilian, makes this a potential headliner of a small Brazilian card or a main card bout on a pay-per-view. Either way this fight would not lack fireworks like Teixeira’s bout with Davis lacked.
Anthony Perosh-Guto Inocente loser
Yes, yes, I know I am stretching matchups here, but that’s how shallow the pool of talent light heavyweight is in the UFC right now. That’s why they need to go on a signing spree in the hope of grabbing some diamonds in the rough.
That said, Anthony Perosh and Guto Inocente do have some redeeming values that make them solid competitors.
On one hand, Perosh is a seasoned UFC veteran with gnarly Brazilian jiu-jitsu skill from top position. He comes forward aggressively looking for takedowns so he can incorporate that game.
Then you have a young lion in Inocente still trying to prove himself in the UFC. He is highly touted by his teammates and has good striking skills to matchup with Teixeira.
It’s a long shot, but if the UFC wants Glover back in the win column, they may give him a gimme fight.
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