Glover Teixeira Is Hopeful That UFC Will Make Him Backup For Jan Blachowicz vs Israel Adesanya Title Fight

Glover Teixeira (32-7) in his MMA career, appears to be aging like fine wine, with his performances only improving over the years. The 41-year old is currently riding a five-fight winning streak dating back to the start of 2019, obtaining wins over tough, young, and hungry competition such as Karl Roberson, Ion Cutelaba, Nikita Krylov and more recently finishing former title challengers in Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos.

Glover Teixeira believes he’s next in line for an opportunity of securing the light heavyweight title, however, needs to wait until Jan Blachowicz and middleweight champion Israel Adesanya settle their differences on March 6 at UFC 259.

Although the light heavyweight title is up for grabs and it doesn’t include Glover Teixeira, the Brazilian still expressed a strong interest in serving as a backup for the highly-anticipated clash, but would still expect to be compensated by the UFC to cover the costs of a training camp.

Glover Teixeira serving as a backup fighter for UFC 259

“It’s a position that I told the guys, but we haven’t gotten an offer, but we talked about it,” Teixeira recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’d do the camp, and of course I have to get paid somehow to do the training camp and bring guys in and everything.

“But really man, I’m in a position where my next fight should be a title fight. I beat all the guys they put in my way. I beat Thiago, who had fought for the title and then he fought me, and if he won that fight, he would’ve probably gotten the title (shot) anyway.

“And the thing is to be impressive in your wins, and that’s what I did out there. The two guy that Jon Jones didn’t finish, I finished them in 2020. I think I should be the next guy for the title.”

Glover Teixeira has been in the sport long enough to realise both guys don’t always make it to the dance and he will relish the opportunity to step-in, even if he doesn’t end up fighting on the night.

“A guy can get a cold or break a finger and pull out like that,” Glover Teixeira said. “They’re not going to put everything on the line with a little hurt here or a little hurt there. If I’m ready to go, I’ll take the fight right away. I think it’s a possibility. If either of those guys get hurt, I should be ready to go if UFC wants to make sure 100 percent.”

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