Glover Teixeira Is Focused On Phil Davis At UFC 179

No. 4-ranked UFC heavyweight Glover Teixeira suffered hi first loss in 21 fights when he was outmatched by champion Jon Jones in the main event of April’s UFC 172 from Baltimore, Maryland.

Teixeira had run through all five of his UFC opponents to earn a shot at the dominant “Bones,” but he didn’t defeat a top-ranked challenger along the way (unless you consider Ryan Bader top-ranked). Teixeira suffered a shoulder injury from an early round arm crank by Jones, but he avoided surgery to sign on for a bout with No. 6-ranked Phil Davis in the co-main event of October 25’s UFC 179 from Brazil.

Speaking at the recent UFC 179 media day in Rio de Janeiro, Teixeira knew he had some work to do after the one-sided loss to Jones (via MMA Fighting):

“”I lost the fight, and as soon as I got out (of the Octagon) I knew I had to change a few things in my camp. I’m in there to have fun, win or lose. I will go back to my roots, respect my body and train what I always trained without focusing on what my opponent does instead of worrying about what I have to do.”

Teixeira is honest in his assessment of what he did wrong against Jones, and this time around, he’s vowed to make sure there is no question that he is the better fighter:

“I will keep the pressure as I always do. I’m going to do what I did to Bader, Te Huna and Rampage. I’m going to do that. I’m going for the finish. It won’t be a close fight. I thought Lyoto won his fight against Phil Davis, but I didn’t protest because it was a close bout, either could win. I’m going to prove that I won, and I challenge the judge to rob me. It won’t go the distance, but I’d love to see how the judges would give him the win after I clearly win all three rounds, beating his face. They can put his father there as a judge and it won’t help.”

Teixeira remains focused on the task at hand, not looking ahead to any of the top-ranked challengers that currently populate the UFC light heavyweight division. For him, Davis is just the next step on his path back towards the belt, a belt that he emphatically vowed to obtain when he gets another shot:

“Phil Davis is at the top for a long time, he’s a tough guy, so he’s another step in the division,” he said. “I don’t think about Davis, (Daniel) Cormier or other top fighters. I want to fight and beat a top opponent, then fight another top opponent, and then fight for the belt again. This time, I will get that f—ing belt.”

Still rating as one of the top 205-pound fighters in the UFC, Teixeira is still without a win over a top opponent in the Octagon. Will he finally secure that distinction by defeating Davis at UFC 179?