UFC light heavyweight Glover Teixeira appears to again be in line for a huge opportunity against former 205-pound champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.
And if that's what the UFC wants, Teixeira said, then he's just fine with that.
Of course, if Jackson is next in line, Teixeira said he hopes it's a fully motivated, fully dedicated "Rampage." After all, the Brazilian slugger believes wins are important, but he only wants to fight the best opponents available.
"We'll see," Teixeira told MMAjunkie.com Radio (
MMAjunkie.com Radio | MMAjunkie.com). "The rumor is there that the fight might happen. We'll see how motivated 'Rampage' comes out.
"I'll fight anyone. I work for the company, and I'm not going to say 'No' to anybody or anything like that, but I love to fight a motivated guy who wants to get back and get that title. You know what I mean? I don't want to fight a guy that whatever happens, he's going to stop fighting and doesn't want to get that title again."
Jackson was expected to face Teixeira at this past weekend's UFC 153 event, but injury forced the former champ to withdraw from the card, and Fabio Maldonado stepped in as a replacement opponent. Teixeira brutalized his countryman for 10 minutes before the fight was mercifully waved off at the end of the second round.
It was Teixeira's second impressive UFC win, and many have already started to view him as a legitimate future challenger to current champion Jon Jones. The humble Teixeira refused to sing his own praises, but he did admit this week's announcement that Chael Sonnen would be coaching opposite Jones on "The Ultimate Fighter 17" in advance of a 2013 title fight gave him reason to consider his approach to a UFC title run.
"Chael Sonnen, he talks a lot, and he sells the fight," Teixeira said. "I guess maybe we have to do a little bit more of that, too. I'm not a good talker, but there are people that do that to sell fights. I like to sell fights by the way I fight.
"I go in there, and I excite the fans. I'm in shape for three rounds – five rounds if I have to – and win or lose, I'm going to excite the fans. I'm going to slam the guy on the ground and throw bombs so the fans will get excited."
Whether or not Jackson will be the next opponent Teixeira manhandle on his way up the UFC's 205-pound ladder remains to be seen. Twitter messages by the fighters and UFC President Dana White seem to suggest the fight could be scheduled in the near future. Teixeira does need to first receive medical clearance, but he doesn't believe his injuries to be severe.
More importantly to Teixeira, it seems, is to make sure Jackson is prepared to bring his best game.
"It seems like he wants to fight," Teixeira said. "He offered the fight. I'll fight anyone. We'll see what my manager says, and as soon as the fight is set, I'll be training 100 percent for the fight.
"I'm a focused guy. Nothing is going to take my attention away from the fight. I'm going to fight as hard as I can to get the victory."
