Glover Teixeira hopes UFC makes him backup for Jan Blachowicz vs. Israel Adesanya

Glover Teixeira wants to stay ready just in case opportunity comes knocking.

The longtime UFC light heavyweight contender is looking to serve as a standby opponent in case there is a dropout in the upcoming title fight between champion Jan Blachowicz and UFC middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya on March 6 at UFC 259.

Teixeira has no problem getting ready for March 6 even if he doesn’t end up fighting. However, coming off wins over recent title challengers Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith, he wants to get paid for his efforts so he can cover the costs of a training camp.

“It’s a position that I told the guys, but we haven’t gotten an offer, but we talked about it,” Teixeira recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’d do the camp, and of course I have to get paid somehow to do the training camp and bring guys in and everything.

“But really man, I’m in a position where my next fight should be a title fight. I beat all the guys they put in my way. I beat Thiago, who had fought for the title and then he fought me, and if he won that fight, he would’ve probably gotten the title (shot) anyway.

“And the thing is to be impressive in your wins, and that’s what I did out there. The two guy that Jon Jones didn’t finish, I finished them in 2020. I think I should be the next guy for the title.”

Teixeira, who is on a four-fight win streak, with all four coming via stoppage, knows MMA fights can fall through at any time, especially during a pandemic. That’s why he’s ready to step up.

“A guy can get a cold or break a finger and pull out like that,” Teixeira said. “They’re not going to put everything on the line with a little hurt here or a little hurt there. If I’m ready to go, I’ll take the fight right away. I think it’s a possibility. If either of those guys get hurt, I should be ready to go if UFC wants to make sure 100 percent.”