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Glover Teixeira, the UFC veteran and former light heavyweight champion, might not be done with the octagon yet. After nearly a year of contentment in retirement, Teixeira is now reconsidering his decision, leaving the door open for a potential return to the UFC. His renewed spark comes largely from being around top-tier athletes like Alex Pereira, who has urged him to step back into competition.
In an interview with MMA Fighting, Teixeira shared his current mindset:
"There’s nothing [booked], but I’ll go back to competition. I keep going after challenges. It’s hard to stay [training] without a reason, so I’ll definitely do something. I want to compete."
Teixeira initially hung up his gloves in January 2023, following two consecutive losses in UFC title fights against Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill. Despite stepping away from MMA, Teixeira kept himself active, even winning a grappling match against Anthony Smith in mid-2023. While there were talks of a grappling showdown against Rafael Lovato Jr. at a UFC Fight Pass Invitational, those plans didn’t come to fruition.
The 45-year-old Brazilian legend has been instrumental in Alex Pereira’s training camps, helping Pereira defend his title against notable fighters like Hill, Prochazka, and most recently Khalil Rountree. This consistent exposure to the gym has reignited Teixeira’s competitive spirit.
“I was doing some light sparring with ‘Poatan’ the other day, and he’s like, ‘F*ck, Glover, you have to come back!’” Teixeira recalled, hinting that Pereira’s encouragement is playing a key role in his potential comeback.
While Teixeira is open to various options, including grappling and possibly boxing, he hasn't ruled out returning to the UFC.
“I’ll do some jiu-jitsu... maybe boxing... or even go back for some fights in the UFC,” he said.
Teixeira’s illustrious career boasts 42 professional fights with a record of 33-9, including victories over legends like Jan Blachowicz, Ryan Bader, and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. As Teixeira contemplates his next move, fans can’t help but wonder whether the octagon will once again host the former champion. One thing is for sure: Glover Teixeira is still hungry for competition, regardless of the sport.
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