The great UFC 165 bout between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson being far more competitive than expected by most was a great thing for everyone.
Everyone, that is, except for Glover Teixeira. Teixeira came into the night as the man set to get the next crack at the world title. After Jones and Gustafsson thrilled with their tremendous fight, Dana White — and many fans and media members — seemed to want to see an immediate rematch.
To Glover this is an upsetting proposition (via USA Today):
“Even I want to watch that fight again,” Teixeira said. “But it’s hard to say I’m OK with it, because I worked so hard to get this opportunity. I felt like I had my hands right there on the chance, and now they’re going to take it away from me, and who knows for how long? It could be a year from now. It’s really upsetting to me.”
…
“There’s no way I’m just going to sit around,” Teixeira said. “I’m healthy. I’m good. I had a few minor injuries before the fight with Bader, but nothing major, and we’re getting it taken care of. I could be ready to fight in three or four months, and I don’t want to wait. If they’re going to do this rematch, then I want to get in there and fight someone else.”
Teixeira said he hadn’t spoken with UFC officials but was awaiting their decision. If they’re listening, Teixeira thinks the rematch can wait.
“I want that title shot,” Teixeira said. “That’s all I want. I’ll sit back and wait and cross my fingers.”
Personally, I think Glover would benefit from a bigger win than Ryan Bader. Bader and Rampage Jackson aren’t pushovers or meaningless wins. But Rampage was shot coming into that fight and Bader, though having only lost to top shelf talent (and Tito Ortiz), doesn’t really carry the kind of status of being a guy who a win over puts you in a title fight.
Gustafsson didn’t have a great win other than Mauricio Rua before he got his shot, but he was sort of “the best available option.” There was no definite better fight available for Jones. It sucks for Glover but the Gustafsson rematch fills that “better fight” void.
But Glover is hoping the anti-immediate rematch crowd gets their way and he gets his title shot before Jones steps into the cage with anyone else.
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