At an age when mixed martial artists contemplate retirement, UFC stalwart Glover Teixeira became a world champion. However, the Brazilian is now 42 and feels he is nearing the day when he will hang up the gloves and wants to do it whether or not he remains champion.
Defeating Prochazka, retire as champion: Glover Teixeira’s “perfect plan”
The reigning UFC Light Heavyweight champion, one of the senior most fighters on the promotion’s current roster, clinched the 205-pound title against former champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 267 last October, almost decade after joining the UFC.
Now, the veteran Brazilian is less than a month away from making his first title defense in the Octagon, against Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 275 on 11th June, a fight which was originally targeted for UFC 274 on 7th May.
Whether or not Teixeira is able to defend his title against Prochazka, he opened up about his future in an interview with Mundo da Luta, stating that he will be quitting the sport this year, but would prefer to retire as a champion.
“The perfect plan would be winning this fight, which I have full focus on,” said Teixeira, “And fighting one last time in November, in New York, which is close to the city I live for 20 years, and close to my gym. It would be my farewell from fighting. That’s what I’m thinking right now.”
“I’ll be 43 in November. Regardless of being at the top, being the best of the world or not, I wanna stop this year. It will probably be my last year. I don’t wanna make this decision after a fight, but it’s what I’ve been thinking for a while. I don’t wanna retire like [Henry] Cejudo, who keeps asking for a fight all the time, I want to retire and stay cool.”
“I think that’s the perfect plan. The perfect plan is to retire with the belt this year, but we have a lot to do. We have to see if it could be in New York, and I still have to beat a guy that is tough as hell. That’s my idea,” added Teixeira. [H/T MMA Fighting]
What is your take on Glover Teixeira announcing his retirement this year? Will he come out victorious against Prochazka at UFC 275? Let us know in the comments.
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