LAS VEGAS – Glover Teixeira is eager to run things back with UFC light heavyweight champ Jiri Prochazka.
Teixeira (33-8 MMA, 16-6 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to Prochazka (29-3-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) late in the fifth round at UFC 275, in a fight he was en route to winning. It was a grueling back-and-forth war, but a costly mistake resulted in Teixeira getting submitted for the first time in his career.
The 42-year-old was pondering retirement leading up to the fight, but after such a heartbreaking loss, Teixeira thinks he deserves an immediate rematch.
“Very motivated,” Teixeira told MMA Junkie. “I want to get back there right away. I want a rematch right away. It’s one of those things like, ‘Man, I can do it. I could do it. How did I let it slip away? So I guess maybe that’s what it is. I’m motivated to get back there and win the belt.”
He continued, “I think the fight, the way it was, everybody wants to watch that fight. As a champion, I was winning the fight and I let it slip away like that, and another thing is how great the fight was. That fight deserved a rematch. If that rematch happens, I don’t think anybody is gonna talk sh*t about the rematch except a couple of guys who are there that want the title fight.”
Teixeira is willing to fight Prochazka anywhere. When asked about a rumored card in his home country of Brazil, the ex-champ said he’d love that but is even willing to go to enemy territory.
“January in Brazil if that fight could be there for the Brazilian fans,” Teixeira said. “To be honest, I’m not the champion right now, and I wanted to fight in Brazil when I was there, but it’s up to the UFC and Jiri now. …
“I would have gone to the Czech Republic when I was champion. I would never say no to any place.”
