Glover Teixeira vs. Phil Davis Official For UFC 179 In Rio

The rumored light heavyweight bout between recent title challenger Glover Teixeira and No. 6-ranked contender Phil Davis is apparently official for October’s UFC 179 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The two fighters reportedly verbally agreed to face one another at the still-developing fall card, but Teixeira just confirmed that he will be fighting Davis to Portal do Vale Tudo:

“My manager called me yesterday confirming the fight to Maracanazinho. It’s going to be awesome to fight in Brazil again, in Rio de Janeiro. I’m really happy, training a lot.

Fighting Phil Davis is going to be really good. He’s popular in Brazil because he already fought and defeated some Brazilians. Now it’s time to prove myself and start to climb the ladder again. I will train hard and fight hard. I want to fight for the title again next year.”

Teixeira lost a very one-sided decision to champion Jon Jones in the main event of April 27’s UFC 172 from Baltimore Maryland. Unblemished in 20 fights leading up to his bout with the dominant “Bones,” Teixeira suffered an early shoulder injury from an arm crank that fortunately did not require surgery.

But he’s apparently back to training and ready to take on grinding wrestler Davis, who was recently embarrassed in a one-sided decision loss of his own at UFC 172’s co-main event. Returning (and surging) slugger Anthony “Rumble” Johnson handed Davis a beating after “Mr. Wonderful” talked an incredible amount of trash, making his bout with Teixeira a very pivotal one if the former NCAA mat champion wants to restart his climb up the UFC rankings.

Featuring an awaited featherweight title rematch between champion Jose Aldo and No. 1 contender Chad Mendes, UFC 179 will take place at the Maracanazinho gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It has not been confirmed as to whether or not Teixeira vs. Davis will serve as the card’s co-main event.

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