Number three-ranked UFC light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira had to go through hoops to get to where he is today. This weekend, he will be facing Misha Cirkunov in Winnipeg for the UFC’s FOX card, with the winner to be possibly catapulted to the front of the line of next possible title contenders.
Even at 38 years of age, Texeira continues to compete against the elite of his division, with retirement still far away from his mind.
“It’s hard to say when I’ll retire because I’m feeling great,” Texeira said on ESPN.com’s “My Life as a Fighter.” “I’m in love with this sport and having a blast. But I don’t know. Time will tell. The fights will tell themselves. The day I don’t motivate myself to go to the gym anymore, that’s the day I’m probably going to stop.”
“I’m not greedy — I have a pretty good life. I don’t have an expensive lifestyle, so I can make my living teaching classes at my gym. I’m not fighting for the money. Of course, money is good, but if I don’t feel like going to the gym anymore, I can stop fighting and do something else.”
Texeira is coming off a five-round war against Alexander Gustafsson in Sweden last May. He did lose via fifth-round knockout, but the contest earned him a $50,000 bonus for Fight of the Night Honors.
Once retirement appears on the horizon, Texeira hopes to leave a memorable legacy behind.
“I want to be remembered as a fighter who gives it his all,” Texeira said. “I’m always wanting to put on a show for everybody. I always go forward and try for the knockout or submission. I’m going to finish my opponent. I’m not going to try to win by decision.
“I want people to remember me as someone who gave it his all every time he stepped in the cage.”
UFC on FOX 26 is scheduled for Saturday, December 16th. It will be headlined by a welterweight fight between former UFC champions Robbie Lawler and Rafael dos Anjos.
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