Glover Teixeira returns to Brazil as the house crowd favourite, however he faces a troublesome take a look at in surging up-and-comer Jamahal Hill as championship gold is on the road at UFC 283.
Look again at a few of @GloverTeixeira’s best hits 🍿
[ #UFC282 | Dec 10 | @TMobileArena | Get your tickets: https://t.co/tdvQYyK5JS 🎟 ] pic.twitter.com/SqfDnmquYI
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2022
Glover Teixeira’s homecoming couldn’t be taking place at a greater time in his profession, to be fairly trustworthy. A longtime veteran who as soon as struggled to acquire a visa to journey to the USA and be part of the UFC, Teixeira heads into the combat in Rio de Janeiro as a beloved former champion competing for what might effectively be his final shot at gold. His age, 43, is well-documented and the truth that he stepped into the bout relatively unexpectedly just isn’t misplaced on anybody, least of all of the Brazilian trustworthy who will see their soft-spoken ambassador return for the primary time in seven years.
However whereas the gang will look to push Teixeira into subsequent gear, he should first overcome his share of challenges. His battle with Jiri Prochazka final June took house the Combat of the Yr award from most pundits, however such a battle can shorten the profession of even a younger man. Although Teixeira held his personal, it now stays to be seen if his sturdiness will nonetheless be as much as his regular requirements. To present him confidence, Teixeira has shared the cage together with his share of heavy hitters in Thiago Santos, Anthony Smith, and Quinton Jackson and went on to win after absorbing their greatest blows. Solely two opponents (the late Anthony Johnson in 2016 and Alexander Gustafsson in 2017) have ever stopped him with strikes within the UFC and he’s anticipated to confidently lean on that statistic ought to he enter the hearth once more on Saturday.
They name him Candy Goals for good cause 👊😴@JamahalH goes for gentle heavyweight gold Saturday at #UFC283! pic.twitter.com/kKsJPx89M7
— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2023
Jamahal Hill doesn’t enter enemy territory with the huge expertise of Teixeira, however he does have the damaging weapons of confidence and momentum for his first shot at UFC gold. “Candy Goals” started his skilled profession at 26 years-old in 2017 and obtained off to a 5-0 begin that obtained him on the radar as one of many prime prospects of the upper weight lessons. He made essentially the most of his spot on Dana White’s Contender Collection in 2019 by ending his opponent within the second spherical to earn a UFC contract. He shortly adopted up the efficiency victories over Darko Stošić, Klidson Abreu (later overturned,) and former title challenger Ovince Saint Preux.
2021 would see him undergo the primary lack of his skilled profession, towards Paul Craig who competes on Saturday’s undercard, however it might additionally result in essentially the most essential run of his profession to this point. Hill rattled off consecutive finishes towards the likes of Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker, and Thiago Santos with the latter two coming in primary occasions. The contender from Grand Rapids was anticipated to combat in March towards Anthony Smith however a draw within the combat for the vacant title final month led to the UFC shuffling the deck and pushing Hill to the entrance of the road somewhat before anticipated.
The bout sees a really fascinating stylistic matchup because the taller and youthful Hill shall be seeking to make the most of his attain to maintain the stockier Teixeira at a distance. Each males have confirmed that they’ve a strong fuel tank however the grappling and sturdiness of Teixeira are anticipated to be essentially the most harmful weapons within the match. Ought to he successfully keep away from taking a lot injury and get on prime of Hill all through the combat, he’s anticipated to chop away at Hill’s fuel tank and be forward on the scorecards. Ought to Hill be capable of get in-and-out effectively, the combat begins to swing extra closely in his favor. The largest query shall be how effectively does Teixeira take up injury given his age and the truth that that is his first combat since his battle with Prochazka final yr.
A brand new Mild Heavyweight king shall be topped!! 👑@GloverTeixeira vs @JamahalH for the title in tomorrow’s primary occasion!
[ #UFC283 | Tomorrow | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/zOypFUHuuX ] pic.twitter.com/B6v7xaXskB
— UFC (@ufc) January 20, 2023
Whereas a combat between Saturday’s winner and Jiri Prochazka can be essentially the most excellent state of affairs, the restoration mandatory for the previous champion is anticipated to maintain him out of motion for all of 2023. As such, a combat with Magomed Ankalaev (after taking momentum within the latter a part of the draw towards Jan Blachowicz) is anticipated to be subsequent for Teixeira or Hill later within the yr with the hope that Prochazka shall be on monitor to then face that winner for the undisputed title within the first half of 2024.
