Glover Teixeira: It’s better for me if Jon Jones wins
No. 2-ranked UFC Light Heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira has made quite the splash since making his way to the Octagon. Undefeated at 4-0 after making his debut at UFC 146, Teixeira is likely fighting for a title shot against Ryan Bader tomorrow night in the main event of UFC Fight Night 28 from Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Teixeira knows that Bader is a dangerous opponent, a man who has his back against the wall after he’s had some ups and downs after starting his career undefeated. The Chuck Liddell-trained Teixeira told “The MMA Hour” that he must put on an impressive performance on Wednesday night to lock up his coveted title shot, because nothing is guaranteed in the UFC:
“I can’t go and do a boring fight. Chuck used to tell me all the time, ‘If you want to win fans and get fights and get to the title, go over there and excite the fans and prove and show yourself and beat these guys impressive.’ This is the way I been fighting. I go to finish all my fights, it doesn’t matter what way.”
It appears that Teixeira has the mindset of his mentor, a former UFC Light Heavyweight champion who always went in headhunting and looking for the knockout. A 5-0 run in the tough UFC 205 lb. division will be tough to deny for UFC matchmakers, and Teixeira would likely find himself facing the winner of UFC 165’s main event between champion Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson on September 21st from Toronto, Canada.
Teixeira stated that he knows Gustafsson has been working hard to become champion, but he wants to prove himself against the man who many believe to be the best all-around fighter in the world right now, Jon Jones:
“It’s hard for me to say I’m rooting for him (Jones) because Gustafsson has been working hard and wants the title, but, in a way, yeah, if Jon Jones wins its better for me. If I get to fight the champion, it’s better fighting Jon Jones because he has the bigger name. It’s kind of like Weidman beating Anderson Silva. It’s great for him, but if someone goes now and beats Weidman it’s not the same thing, know what I mean?”
That’s an interesting viewpoint from Teixeira, who is probably correct in assuming that Weidman’s mystique would change overnight were he to lose. The same thing would undoubtedly happen to Jones, and with champions seemingly dropping like flies these days; it’s not an entirely ridiculous proposal.
The stars must align for Teixeira to have his anticipated match with Jones, but if it does happen, we could see ’Bones’ face his toughest test so far in the UFC. Is he the man to beat Jones, or will Teixeira see a golden opportunity pass him by?
