Glover Teixeira on UFC 197 headliner: OSP 'dangerous,' but Jones has advantage

UFC light heavyweight Glover Teixeira has fought both Ovince Saint Preux and Jon Jones, so his opinion on this month’s UFC 197 pay-per-view headliner is perhaps more informed than others.

Right now, Teixeira (24-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC), who’s No. 5 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light-heavyweight rankings, has other things to worry about, including his meeting ex-champ and No. 9-ranked Rashad Evans (19-4-1 MMA, 14-4-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on FOX 19 headliner at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. But he’s definitely going to be watching UFC 199 on April 23.

This past August at UFC Fight Night 73, Teixeira defeated Saint Preux, who’s filling in for injured champ Daniel Cormier. Saint Preux was unable to fend off Teixeira’s grappling and succumbed to a rear-naked choke in the second round.

Against Jones, Teixeira didn’t fare nearly as well. The now-former champ battered him over five rounds, once gruesomely cranking Teixeira’s shoulder mid-fight and landing several accidental eye-pokes en route to a unanimous-decision loss.

With Saint Preux filling in on short-notice, Teixeira thinks his former opponent has a chance. But it might depend on the fight staying upright.

“I think Jon Jones has a big advantage because he was in camp already, and he’s got a better ground game and is a better wrester,” Teixeira told MMAjunkie. “’OSP’ is a tricky fighter. He’s got that chance, but it’s going to be a tough fight for him.”

Fans will see if Saint Preux (19-7 MMA, 7-2 UFC) can buck the odds against Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) when UFC 197 airs on pay-per-view from at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“Bones” has tapped several fighters – among others, Vitor Belfort, Lyoto Machida and Quinton Jackson – when grappling came into the picture. If Saint Preux can land a big punch, Teixeira ventures, Jones might be denied the chance.

“He’s got a hard shot, and it can come from nowhere,” Teixeira said of Saint Preux.

From the sound of it, though, Teixeira isn’t banking on that outcome.

“Jon Jones is a champion for a reason,” he said. “He’s a very tough, well-rounded fighter. It’s one of those things. I’m not rooting for anybody over here. I think they both deserve a chance because they work hard.”

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