Glover Teixeira

By Michael Hatamoto

Since joining the UFC last year, Teixeira has gone 4-0 against Kyle Kingsbury, Fabio Maldonado, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and James Te Huna – and has looked especially sharp heading into UFC 160.

Teixeira also picked up a $50,000 Submission of the Night bonus by securing an in-arm guillotine choke against Te Huna.

It’s possible Teixeira is one fight away from a light heavyweight title shot, and calling out the winner of Evans vs. Henderson could be a good idea. The UFC seems most interested in matching up Alexander Gustafsson against Jones sometime in 2013, though fights against Evans or Hendo, Lyoto Machida, or Mauricio “Shogun” Rua should usher Teixeira to a title shot.

I think a fight between Teixeira and the winner of Evans and Hendo makes the most sense, and if Teixeira wins he should be given a title shot. There is suddenly a lot of action at the top of the light heavyweight division, so UFC matchmaker Joe Silva has a lot of work ahead.

However, Teixeira vs. Machida can only happen if it’s for the UFC light heavyweight title, according to Teixeira’s manager, Ed Soares. There are a lot of excellent potential fight matchups for Teixeira while he gets one step closer to a title possible title shot.

Stay tuned to Full Contact Fighter for UFC 161 coverage next month from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with Evans vs. Henderson serving as the main event.