Glover Teixeira had an inkling he would eventually get his due after losing out on his title fight at UFC 282.
Teixeira (33-8 MMA, 16-6 UFC) was scheduled to run things back with light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka this past Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, but the fight was scrapped when Prochazka withdrew due to injury.
Prochazka also relinquished his belt, but Teixeira surprisingly was not one half of the vacant title fight. Instead, Jan Blachowicz faced Magomed Ankalaev, but a split draw left the division in a quandary. Much to everyone’s surprise, including Teixeira, the UFC moved on from both Ankalaev and Blachowicz and booked Teixeira against Jamahal Hill (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) for the vacant belt at UFC 283 on Jan. 21.
“I keep saying this to everybody, (but) people stress for no reason,” Teixeira told MMA Underground. “People ask me if I got mad. Of course I got upset on the day that I found out I was not going to fight for the title, but I said, ‘I’m not going to let this bother me.’ Let’s live life. I’m healthy, I’m happy, life is great. I’m fighting for the belt against one of the winners, because that’s the thing. I deserve to be here. I work my ass off, I fight my ass off, and here I am. Let the universe take care of things and just do the right thing. Keep focused on your goal, and the universe will take care of the rest.”
He continued, “In my mind I was thinking the whole time, ‘This fight, turn around quick. The UFC needs a main event in Brazil. They might get one of those guys to fight in Brazil.’ Nobody said anything, but I was thinking that. But then it comes to the third round when Ankalaev had both legs hurt and Jan had a cut over his eye and I’m like, ‘OK, I guess Brazil is not going to happen.’ Then when I see Ankalaev winning the fight, I said, ‘Well, he’s going to win but it’s not going to be in Brazil.’ Then the craziness happens, that decision that nobody understood. But hey, like I said, let the universe take care of things. Glover, you’re fighting in Brazil. Let’s go.”
Teixeira will take on a streaking Hill who’s brimming with confidence. But when the UFC offered him the title fight, he jumped on the opportunity without even knowing who he’s facing.
“(Hill is) an incredible guy. Tough, tough opponent. Very good fighter,” Teixeira said. “I’m just excited to be training for this, training to get the belt back, prove that I’m the best in the world. That’s what I’m here for. I’m very excited. I just want to go out there and fight the best. I wish we had a winner in this fight, but let’s go. Vacant title is still on the line, and that’s it. You can’t take something from a man when he earns it. The vacant title was my shot. Now I’ve got to do the work. The universe did it. Now I’ve got to do my part and train my ass off and take the belt and make history.”
