Dana White Likes Teixeira vs. Johnson, But “Rumble” Doesn’t Dance
Glover Teixeira knocked out former champion Rashad Evans in brutal fashion just 1:48 into round one at last night’s (Sat. April 16, 2016) UFC on FOX 19 headliner at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Teixeira dropped “Suga” with a brutal left hand along the fence, then put the nail in the coffin with a pulverizing right. Evans slumped face-first to the mat, finished for just the second time in his storied career. In the aftermath, the Brazilian took to the mic to call out fellow knockout artist Anthony “Rumble” Johnson:
“Let’s Dance” @GloverTeixeira calls out @Anthony_Rumble for his next fight.
https://t.co/22IOGlRhlf— #UFCTampa (@ufc) April 17, 2016
“‘Rumble’ Johnson, you know, he’s waiting around for Jones and Cormier. So, you know, he don’t want to wait around. Let’s dance, baby! Let’s make some money!”
With his third straight finish since dropping back-to-back decisions to Jon Jones and Phil Davis, Teixeira is taking aim at the top of the division.
Many believe “Rumble” earned his second bid for UFC gold by dismantling Ryan Bader in the headliner of the last UFC on FOX show back in January. Johnson’s lone misstep since returning to the UFC in April 2014 was succumbing to a third round rear-naked choke from Daniel Cormier in a battle for the vacant light heavyweight strap at May 2015’s UFC 187.
His five other fights have resulted in four knockouts and a dominant decision over the aforementioned Davis. With next week’s previously scheduled unification bout between Jones and Cormier at UFC 197 on hold for now, Johnson may have to wait for another crack at a championship.
Should he choose to stay busy, perhaps a bout with the brick-fisted Teixeira would make sense. The man in Teixeira’s crosshairs did not remain silent on the subject, replying to the callout with the response that he doesn’t dance:
I don’t dance, I fight!!!
— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) April 17, 2016
Dana White likes the idea as well. The UFC president had this to say to FOX’s Heidi Androl when asked about the current state of the 205-pound division:
“We do have a situation. It’s all about timing. It’s funny, when he called him out, I went, ‘Ooh, I like that fight!’ That’s a fun fight. Glover looked awesome tonight. Rashad Evans is always a dangerous guy. You know, Rashad has speed in his hands, he has knockout power himself, and he got caught. And you know, you know I don’t make fights after fights, but I gotta be honest: when he called him out, I like that fight.”
Check out the full interview here:
