The former light heavyweight title challenger did just that and survived a first round scare to submit Saint Preux by rear-naked choke 3:10 into the third round. After the fight, Teixeira said he was back and called out current light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.
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“I’m back! Cormier, I told you before. I’m coming for you, baby," Teixeira told Jon Anik in his post-fight interview.
The fight started with the Brazilian securing two early takedowns but the No. 6-ranked light heavyweight was able to get up on both occasions. With the fight back on the feet, the Knoxville native landed a flush liver kick that sent Teixeira crumbling to the mat. Saint Preux pounced with ground and pound punches, but Teixeira survived.
In the second round, the No. 4-ranked light heavyweight used wrestling technique to secure a takedown and looked for the submission, but Saint Preux survived.
Then in the final round, Teixeira landed on another takedown on a busted open Saint Preux. On this occasion, Teixeira made sure Saint Preux wasn’t getting back up and secured Saint Preux’s back from a transition to lock in the rear naked choke for the submission victory.
“He hurt me with the liver shot and I had to take him down,” Teixeira said.
Steven Muehlhausen is a boxing and MMA writer and contributor for Sporting News. You can email him at [email protected] and can find him on Twitter @SMuehlhausenMMA.
