Glover Teixeira can finally add “champion” to his resume after nine years and 21 UFC battles. In the main event of UFC 267, the 42-year-old defeated Jan Blachowicz via second-round submission at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Teixeira went to the ground early and often, and it paid off handsomely when he was able to secure a rear-naked choke that prompted a swift tap from the former champion.
Teixeira got off to a fast start in the first round, securing a takedown in the first few seconds. The champion was placed on his back by the challenger, and remained there for the remainder of the round. The Brazilian did not take much damage, but he was in complete control of the round, even using an old-school can opener towards the finish.
The second round demonstrated that the initial round was not a fluke. He caught Blachowicz with a powerful left hook and fell on top of him again, where he proceeded to work and discovered the choke that would cause the tap and award him the title.
Teixeira did not appear to be ready to retire after the fight. In his post-fight interview, he assured fans that he was ready to continue breaking the rules now that he had won the crown so late in his career.
The victory pushed the light heavyweight division into even more disarray. Jon Jones had been in charge for the greater part of a decade, and Blachowicz’s reign will be remembered as an outlier.
Last September, the heavy-handed Pole won the vacant crown in a fight with Dominick Reyes, but his first title defence was against Israel Adesanya, a career middleweight.
Teixeira is an unlikely winner. In 2014, he faced Jones in a rematch for the title. The Brazilian’s shift in mindset and late-career surge make for a fascinating tale. During a three-fight losing streak from 2016 to 2018, he appeared washed out, but he is presently on a six-fight winning streak.
“You’ve got to evolve,” Teixeira said in his post-victory remarks. “If it’s working, you keep going. But especially at my age right now, I see what can help me. What can I do to be better?”
To defend the title, he will have to keep that mentality. The light heavyweight class has long been dominated by well-known fighters, but fresh contenders are on the horizon who might put Teixeira to the test.
Jiri Prochazka, in particular, has made an impression. Although he has only fought in two UFC fights, the longtime Rizin fighter has impressed with knockouts of Volkan Oezdemir and Reyes.
Teixeira is entitled to celebrate his crowning achievement, but he must now work hard to maintain his title.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
