UFC's Glover Teixeira anticipates September return, expects assignment soon

Brazilian slugger Glover Teixeira (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) expects to resume his assault of the UFC’s light heavyweight division later this year, and the fast-rising contender said he could return to action as soon as September.

“I want to know what’s next for me, too,” Teixeira told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I think I might be fighting in September. They asked me if I’d be ready. We’ll probably hear soon who I’m going to fight, and I’m sure it will be great.”

The 33-year-old Teixeira is one of the UFC’s brightest prospects at 205 pounds, boasting an incredible 19-fight win streak that includes UFC victories over James Te Huna, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Fabio Maldonado and Kyle Kingsbury.

Teixeira currently sits at No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com light heavyweight rankings, but he lacks a signature win to bring him to the very top of division’s ladder. But Teixeira doesn’t blame the UFC for potentially slow-playing his rise to the top. After all, he was offered a fight with former champ Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in his second octagon appearance, but Rua passed on the contest.

It’s a familiar pattern for Teixeira, who has had a number of scheduled opponents withdraw from planned bookings.

“They offered me ‘Shogun’ in my second fight in the UFC,” Teixeira said. “Then I was going to fight ‘Rampage’ in my second fight, but he got hurt, and I had to fight Maldonado. So I think the UFC is doing it right.

“They gave me Ryan Bader for my last fight. He’s a big name, but it ended up being James Te Huna. They’re all tough guys, don’t get me wrong. The big names can make a difference for exposure, but those up-and-coming guys are tough, too. I really don’t care. I know sooner or later, I’m going to get that title.”

Current light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones is scheduled to face Swedish contender Alexander Gustafsson in September. Afterward, “Bones” might find himself in a superfight with Anderson Silva, or he could start a migration to heavyweight.

But Teixeira could prove a very viable challenger to Jones’ throne, and depending on how his next fight plays out could very well be a final hurdle before “Bones” can boast he’s “cleaned out” the division.

Teixeira isn’t about to call out the champ, but he’s brimming with confidence and believes he’s capable of beating anyone in the division.

“Listen, I’m ready to fight anyone right now,” Teixeira said. “At this stage, I feel so confident. I’m healthy. I found how to run a perfect camp, how my body adjusts to everything. And if I’m not injured, I can fight anyone.

“I’m having fun with this stuff.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.