When the UFC needed a new opponent for Rashad Evans at Saturday's UFC on Fox 19, Glover Teixeira accepted the fight before he was told Evans was the foe. He just wanted to get in there and fight.
Maybe Teixeira should take fights like that more often after he knocked out the former light heavyweight champion 1:48 into the first round Saturday in light heavyweight action.
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UNBELIEVABLE.@GloverTeixeira KO's Rashad Evans and becomes just the 2nd man to EVER finish him. #UFCTampa
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) April 17, 2016
https://t.co/uD2eltAuRt
"I go to finish," Teixeira told Joe Rogan. "I didn't want to go in here and do footwork, I'm always fighting to finish."
From the opening bell, Teixeira controlled the Octagon and made Evans work against the cage. It played right into the Brazilian's hands as it made Evans keep the fight on the feet, which played into exactly what Teixeira wanted him to do.
Evans landed a couple of right hands but Teixeira was able to walk through them. Evans was playing with fire and Teixeira extinguished it when he clipped Evans with a left hook and Evans crumbled to the mat. A couple of right hands later referee Herb Dean put a halt to the fight.
It is now three consecutive wins for Teixeira. The 205-pound division is a logjam. Former champion Jon Jones returns next weekend at UFC 197 against Ovince Saint Preux in an interim title fight. The winner of the fight will go on to face champ Daniel Cormier later this year. Teixeira found a top contender who just happened to be at the show — No. 2 ranked Anthony Johnson.
"I feel right at the top," Teixeira said. "Rumble Johnson, he's waiting around for Jones and Cormier. Let's dance baby."
Steven Muehlhausen is an MMA and boxing writer and contributor for Sporting News. You can find his podcast, The Fight Club Chicago, and subscribe on iTunes, Soundcloud and Stitcher. You can email him at [email protected] and can find him on Twitter @SMuehlhausenMMA.
