Glover Teixeira wants a little time off for steak and hamburgers, but he’s not against fighting once more in 2019.
Vancouver, B.C. — In the “what have you done for me lately” world of mixed martial arts, three wins in a calendar year goes a long way. Three wins in a slowly rebuilding light heavyweight division goes even further. So former title challenger Glover Teixeira finds himself in a comfortable position after UFC Vancouver over the weekend.
Teixeira (30-7) earned a split decision against the dangerous Nikita Krylov at the event, following which, he spoke to media outlets including Cageside Press.
Teixeira had celebration on the mind, and wasn’t about to start calling out opponents. But he did seem open to fighting once more in 2019.
“Right now I just want to go home. I’m going to say like Khabib. I’m going to eat a big cheeseburger, a steak,” the Brazilian said of his more immediate plans. Beyond that, he added, “I’m not choosing opponents. I’d like to fight top five in the weight class, and to get myself in there and line up for the title.”
Timing is another thing to consider, however. Teixeira now holds wins over Krylov, Ion Cutelaba, and Karl Roberson. Two of the three came via submission finishes. Because of his previous loss to Jon Jones, it’s not enough to put him in the title picture. But another win or two could at least boost him into the conversation.
When the next opportunity comes is the question. Teixeira has not fought four times in a calendar year since prior to the UFC. Asked about one last fight toward the end of the year, Teixeira responded by reiterating his need for a steak, but added “who knows. I feel a little bruised right now, nothing crazy, but hey, it’s possible, right? It’s a possibility that I get another fight [this year]. That’d be great.”
Earlier, he recapped the fight, giving credit to Krylov’s grit. “The guy was tough, man. I was very surprised how he got out of the submission I got him in. I got his back over there, I got him in a tight guillotine,” he recalled. “And I heard his arm pop. I’ve got to ask him, I heard his arm pop when I got him in the arm-bar, and I felt the arm pop. And he kept fighting. He kept fighting. He got out of some crazy submissions. I’m very impressed. Very impressed, to be honest.”
That said, Teixeira did admit to being frustrated by Krylov’s lack of forward momentum. “He was moving a lot, trying to come in. But like, too much moving,” he said, later adding “the previous fight that I see him, he usually come forward, come up to fight.”
“Let’s fight, stop moving around,” he vented.
As for the split decision, well, Teixeira said simply that “it’s not in my control. My job is to go over there and do what I do. Throw the punches. Every punch I throw is meant to knock people out.”
“My submission is there. Like I said, the arm bar, felt the arm pop,” he added. “I felt the guillotine, he was snoring in the guillotine. I tried to finish the fight. I’m going over there every time, and no regrets. I tried to do what I do, to finish the fight and take him out. Being a judge’s decision, this is what happens.”
Teixeira was elbowed from the bottom, which opened him up a bit. And of course, injuries can sway judges, especially bloody ones. “It is what it is. You leave it to a judge’s decision, who knows what’s going to happen.”
Watch the full UFC Vancouver post-fight press scrum with Glover Teixeira above!
