Glover Teixeira (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Although Jared Cannonier isn’t currently ranked in the top ten of the UFC’s 205 division, perennial contender Glover Teixeira had no issues signing on to face the rising fighter.

The two will battle this Saturday at UFC 208, which will take place in Brooklyn, New York. Teixeira will be fighting for the first time since last April, when he was quickly knocked out by Anthony Johnson. Cannonier, meanwhile, is coming off a decision win over Ion Cutelaba, and has gone 2-1 in the UFC to date.

Recently Teixeira was asked to weigh-in on the fact that he’s about to face a fighter, who isn’t an established, top contender. Here is some of what the heavy handed fighter had to say (quote via MMA Junkie):

“…Everyone deserves their opportunity. I don’t turn down any fights. It does bother me when someone choses not to face me. At the start my career, I was turned down a lot. People were saying I wasn’t famous enough. Where’s the sense in that?

“If the UFC offers me a fight, I’ll accept it regardless of who it is. Of course, a fighter shouldn’t be fighting unknowns his entire career, but in this situation, I see no problem at all. I’ll fight, and I’ll prove to everyone I can go back to winning. And it’s fair to give a new guy an opportunity like this. Otherwise, who is he going to fight? The thing is to step into the cage is shut up the doubters.”

Teixeira is currently ranked #3 in the light-heavyweight division, while Cannonier was recently moved into the #15 spot.