Report: Glover Teixeira vs. Rashad Evans booked for UFC Fight Night 61 in Brazil

Rashad Evans

It appears the UFC’s February return to Brazil, its first scheduled trip there in 2015, has its main event.

According to a report from Brazilian news outlet Globo, Brazil’s Glover Teixeira (22-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC), a recent light heavyweight title challenger, will meet former champion Rashad Evans (19-3-1 MMA, 14-3-1 UFC) in the headliner of UFC Fight Night 61. UFC officials have not yet made a formal announcement.

UFC Fight Night 61 takes place on Sunday, Feb. 22,at Gigantinho Gymnasium in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The main card is expected to air on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Tickets, which range from approximately $92 to $307, are currently on sale for the event at www.ticketsforfun.com.br.

Teixeira is in bad need of a victory after losing back-to-back fights. He started his UFC career 5-0, including four stoppages as part of a 20-fight winning streak. He earned a title shot against light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, but lost a lopsided unanimous decision at UFC 172 in April. He followed that up at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro with a decision loss to Phil Davis, giving him the first losing skid of his career.

Evans will fight for the first time in more than a year when he steps back in the octagon. In November 2013 at UFC 167, he stopped Chael Sonnen with a first-round TKO, giving him two straight wins. At UFC 161, he took a split decision from Dan Henderson to snap a two-fight skid that saw him lose a light heavyweight title fight against former friend and teammate Jon Jones, then get upset by Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 156.

Evans started his career 13-0-1 and won Season 2 of “The Ultimate Fighter” at heavyweight. After a stunning knockout of Chuck Liddell, he beat Forrest Griffin at UFC 92 to win the 205-pound title. But he lost it to Lyoto Machida in his first defense at UFC 98, losing for the first time in his career.

For more on UFC Fight Night 61, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.