On every UFC card, especially ones where nearly all the hype is surrounding the main event, there are fights that fly under the radar somewhat unceremoniously.
At UFC 153 this Saturday, Glover Teixeira vs. Fabio Maldonado serves as one of those fights, as this battle of Brazilian brutes could easily end up stealing the show in front of their boisterous countrymen in Rio de Janeiro.
This matchup, which is one of only three all-Brazilian matchups on the card, almost never materialized since Teixeira was scheduled to fight former UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton (Rampage) Jackson on this card, but Rampage pulled out with an injury. Another former champ, Rashad Evans, was offered to fill in for Rampage but turned it down because of the short notice.
Maldonado was set to face Jorgen Kruth at UFC on Fuel TV 5 in September, but his opponent retired and Maldonado was left off the card. He was briefly linked to a bout with Cyrille Diabate at UFC 154 in Montreal, but when the opportunity to test himself against Teixeira arose, it was something Maldonaldo gladly accepted.
Watch two UFC 153 preliminary fights Saturday at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT live on Sportsnet.ca. This is followed by the two-hour televised undercard on Sportsnet ONE at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Teixeira (18-2) was long considered the best light-heavyweight outside of the UFC, but after his promotional debut in May he was instantly vaulted to contender status. The 32-year-old dismantled Kyle Kingsbury in less than two minutes and thrilled fans, which is one thing he knows is important in the UFC.
“I’ve wanted to be in the UFC for so long and now that I am here it is living a dream,” Teixeira said. “I learned from Chuck Liddell that it is important to be an exciting fighter, to go for the finish and that it is important for you to go out and excite the crowd. I will fight anyone in the UFC. I waited so long to get here — I will fight anyone. Maldonado is a good fighter and will bring the fight to me. But I will knock him out, knockout of the night maybe.”
Earning a knockout win will be a difficult task, however, since Maldonado has never been knocked out in 23 career MMA fights and has perhaps the best chin in the division.
“He said he will knock me out? He’s never encountered a strong chin like mine,” Maldonado said.
Maldonado has a professional mixed martial arts record of 18-5 but that record could easily be 20-3 since he is coming off consecutive controversial decision losses to Igor Pokrajac and Kingsbury. In those bouts he punished his opponents with crisp punches, but it was his willingness to eat a lot of shots that could have cost him valuable points on the judges’ scorecards.
Prior to competing in MMA, the Sao Paulo native was 22-0 as a professional boxer with 21 knockouts and he believes the skills he has with his hands will be a big factor on Saturday.
“I know for a fact my boxing is better than Glover’s. I know he’s never seen anyone with my boxing skills,” Maldonado added. “I know he is a great fighter with hype and a lot of people don’t want to face him — but I do. I have one advantage: I know how to hurt people. My strategy is to exchange punches and see who is the toughest. I will defeat him.”
If Teixeira wins at UFC 153 many will call for him to be the next contender for Jon Jones. If Maldonado can pull off the upset, he could potentially be considered a top-10 light-heavyweight. Either way, fans should be in for a treat when these two meet inside the Octagon.
