UFC 172: Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira – A Closer Look

While the NBA searches for a 2014 champion during the next 8 weeks another organization’s biggest prize is also on the line but, those aficionados won’t have to endure a lengthy 2 month-long process. MMA fans are spoiled actually because in just 25 minutes or less a titleholder will be determined this weekend in the UFC 172 headliner from the Baltimore Arena. Reigning 205-pound king Jon Jones has ruled as the current belt holder by withstanding the tests of various contenders with a multitude of impressive triumphs spanning over a 3-year long period. However, title contender Glover Teixeira, brings his own streak of victories into the cage to challenge Jones in a battle not only for UFC gold but of winning streak versus winning streak. Here is a closer look at the main event when one man will suffer his first loss inside the Octagon as the 205 lbs championship is on the line from Maryland. 

A once in a life time-type fighter, Jon “Bones” Jones (19-1) enters the cage looking to defend his crown for an unprecedented 7^th straight time. The previous record at that weight class stamped by ex-champ Tito Ortiz was set at 5 defenses in a row and stood for a decade. Not only has Jones stated that he plans to shatter the record so that no one can ever come close to topping his run, the 26-year old MMA icon captured UFC gold at the age of 23, making him the youngest champion recorded in the company’s history.  The night of the New Yorker’s grand arrival came in 2011 at UFC 128 when he destroyed then title holder Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

“Bones” went on to successfully defend his belt that year with back to back submissions of Quinton Jackson & Lyoto Machida. The next year he took a unanimous verdict over Rashad Evans before submitting Vitor Belfort in 4 rounds. Then in 2013, he annihilated Chael Sonnen in 1 round via TKO before going to war with Alexander Gustafsson and picking up another unanimous decision. Incidentally, the 25-minute classic he put on in Canada became only the fourth time in his 20-fight career that Jon Jones has gone the distance.

Glover Teixeira (22-2) has defined resiliency since he first embarked on his MMA run. The pride of Sobralia Minas, Gerais, Brazil suffered a TKO loss in his 2002 debut shortly followed by a decision defeat in 2005 thus staring at a record of 2-2. He rebooted in 2006 setting his sights on the UFC belt, never looking back as he stitched together an outstanding 20-fight win streak which included KOs of top fighters in Marvin Eastman & former UFC champ, Ricco Rodriguez, before making his Octagon debut in 2012.

There, the volley of victories only became more violent for Teixeira as he finished durable warriors Kyle Kingsbury and Fabio Maldonado both inside the distance. Early in 2013, he retired former UFC 205-pound title holder, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson from the UFC with a unanimous decision. Later that year at UFC 160, the Brazilian returned to his lethal ways by submitting James Te Huna in half a round. He closed out the year by headlining his first event in front of a rabid home town crowd for UFC Fight Night 28: Teixeira vs. Bader that fall. He delivered the goods with a sensational KO of Ryan Bader inside of the 1^st round. The vicious stoppage now meant that Glover’s stats had moved up to him only going the distance 4 times out of his entire 24 fight career.

This weekend in Maryland, the UFC’s 205-pound coveted crown is set to be disputed between two elite warriors who understand what it means to not only close the show but put on a thrilling performance in the process. Both men have iron chins as well as iron wills. Even before joining the ranks of the elite   within the organization, they lurked in the shadows of war personifying destruction. As highlighted by their past outings, neither fighter likes to hear the buzzer sound after the final round. Hence, both men have only gone the distance 4 times in their careers. With that being said their respective winning streaks have to come to an end some night.

Lucky for us, tomorrow is that night as Jon Jones defends his light heavyweight title against Glover Teixeira in the UFC 172 PPV main event from Baltimore, Maryland.