Two of the best in the light heavyweight division will face off in a highly anticipating headliner for UFC Fight Night when Glover Teixeira takes on Thiago Santos on Saturday, September 12.
Santos is ranked second in the UFC light heavyweight rankings while Teixeira is right behind him at the number four spot.
In a lot of ways, this fight can be looked at as a number one contenders matchup, as whoever comes out on top could have a bout with UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones up next.
If Santos had his way, he would not have to go through Teixeira to get the fight that he feels he deserves.
“Actually, Glover was not the name we wanted,” Santos said. “My desire was a revenge against Jones or [to] go straight for the interim belt against Dominick Reyes. But once UFC was passing through that indefinite situation about Jones, I had to understand their point. I’m more than one year out of the Octagon and pretty hungry to return.”
Santos came up empty (albeit by way of split decision) in his last attempt at knocking Jones off of his pedestal at UFC 239 in July 2019. This was also the last bout that the 36-year-old has fought in, as he was forced to get surgery on both of his knees after the clash.
Teixeira has been on as much of a hot streak as anyone in the entire company over the past two years. The 40-year-old has won four in a row, two of which led to him earning the Performance of the Night award in the process, and has not lost a fight since July 2018.
It is clear that both fighters have a lot riding on their fight on September 12. Who do you think is going to come out on top? Leave your guesses in the comment section below!
Written by: Jerry Markarian