UFC light heavyweight champ Glover Teixeira’s first title defense will have to wait until June, the champion told Canal Combate on Saturday.
Teixeira (33-7) was set to face Jiri Prochazka (28-3-1) at UFC 274 on May 7, at a card originally scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. While the planned location for that card was later shifted, with the location yet to be officially announced, Teixeira vs. Prochazka was still expected to headline.
That is no longer the case. The 205 pound title fight will now take place at UFC 275 in June, at a location and date to be determined. No reason for the move has been given. An international destination, including a return to Fight Island, is very possible for the event however.
Glover Teixeira defeated Jan Blachowicz at UFC 267 last October to claim the light heavyweight title at age 42. The win came following a year long wait after fighting twice in 2020 and three times in 2019. Teixeira is currently riding a six-fight win streak, including victories over Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, and Blachowicz.
Prochazka earned the title shot last May after defeating former title challenger Dominick Reyes via TKO. He is currently riding a 12-fight win streak with notable wins over Reyes, Volkan Oezdemir, CB Dolloway, and King Mo Lawal.
UFC 274, meanwhile, still has another title fight attached to it, as Charles Oliveira is expected to defend his lightweight belt against Justin Gaethje.
