Glover Teixeira boarded a plane from New York to his home country of Brazil on July 5, 2008. Later that night, Forrest Griffin defeated Quinton “Rampage” Jackson to win the UFC light heavyweight title. When Teixeira heard that result, he made a mental note: Griffin would be the one he’d be challenging in the near future for the belt.
At the time, Teixeira figured he’d be in Brazil for about three months while he got things sorted with his visa. Teixeira had been living in the U.S. illegally for several years. His plan was to apply for an I-192 “forgiveness” waiver, return home to Brazil for a short period of time and then be granted a visa to return.
Teixeira’s waiver was granted. His visa was denied. At 28 years old, in what many would consider his athletic prime, Teixeira was unable to return to the U.S. for nearly four years. Perhaps just as important, he could not compete for the UFC when many at the time thought Teixeira — then a top training partner of legend Chuck Liddell — was among the best 205-pound fighters in the world.
“It was very frustrating,” Teixeira told ESPN. “I knew I could beat 90% of those guys that were in the UFC at the time.”
Thirteen years later, Teixeira is still trying to make up for lost time. Teixeira (32-7) made an unsuccessful bid for the UFC light heavyweight title on April 26, 2014, losing a decision to then-champion Jon Jones at UFC 172. On Saturday he will get a second shot, challenging champion Jan Blachowicz in the main event of UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (2 p.m., ESPN+).
Seven men have held the belt since Teixeira was banned from re-entering the U.S. in 2008. Four of them are either retired or no longer in the UFC. But Teixeira is still here, plugging along at 42 years old and on a five-fight winning streak. Along the way, he has made adjustments to remain at the top level, including embracing a one-two combination of science and spirituality. More than anything, though, it’s been a matter of will and determination.
“This is the time,” Teixeira said. “That’s why I’m here. Like I say, I’m not going to go back and think what if this happened or if this happened back then. I’m just living in the moment now. I’m glad here I am now, fighting for the belt and enjoying the process.”
When he fights Blachowicz on Saturday, it will be 2,744 days in between title shots. Teixeira’s 14 UFC fights between championship opportunities are the most ever for a challenger going after the same title. And if Teixeira wins this weekend, he’ll be only the third fighter in UFC history to hold a title at the age of 40 or above, joining all-time greats Randy Couture and Daniel Cormier.
The journey has been long, with plenty of ups and downs. But Teixeira can see the horizon, and not just when he looks out his hotel room window this weekend at the Persian Gulf.
“The only thing that’s missing,” Teixeira said, “is the belt.”
LYOTO MACHIDA FIRST started training with Teixeira in Brazil in 2009, the same year Machida beat Rashad Evans to win the UFC light heavyweight title. Teixeira was stuck in Brazil at the time, unable to return to Danbury, Connecticut, where he had been living with his wife, Ingrid. While living in the U.S., Teixeira had been working as a landscaper when he wasn’t traveling to Southern California to train with Liddell.
Teixeira was trying to make the most out of his time in Brazil, traveling the country and training with the likes of former UFC heavyweight champion Pedro Rizzo, former Pride heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, then-UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Machida. Teixeira was 7-2 as a pro at the time, with all but one victory coming via finish. He was used to going toe-to-toe with Liddell in sparring back in California, so he fit in well with his high-level training partners in Brazil. Teixeira had a rare blend of high-level wrestling and grappling combined with knockout power, a relentless pace and durability.
“When we were training together, I could feel that this guy is tough, man,” Machida said of those sessions 12 years ago. “And he has the grit. Even when I hit hard, Glover always came forward, move forward. That shows his spirit, his will to achieve.”
One afternoon while he was in Rio de Janeiro training at Silva’s gym, Teixeira said, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor approached him and said after watching him train that he guaranteed Teixeira would be in the top five in the UFC within one year of being in the promotion.
In late 2011, more than three years after Teixeira landed in Brazil, Ingrid, an American citizen, wrote a heart-tugging letter to the U.S. consulate in Brazil, another effort to try to get her husband back to the United States after several failed attempts. This time, though, the gears were put in motion. He was ultimately granted a visa, and Teixeira signed with the UFC in February 2012.
While fighting in Brazil, Teixeira went 10-0 with nine finishes, including knockouts over former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez and veteran Marvin Eastman. He made his UFC debut on May 26, 2012, scoring a first-round submission victory over Kyle Kingsbury. Teixeira went 4-0 in his first year with the UFC, including a win over former champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson that established him as a contender for the title. After that fight, Teixeira sought out on Facebook the Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete who had given him those kind words a few years earlier.
“Bro,” Teixeira wrote,” you were right about that.”
In Teixeira’s sixth UFC fight, less than two years after debuting with the promotion, he challenged Jones for the title. He fell via unanimous decision to the man many believe is the greatest MMA fighter of all time. Teixeira dropped his next fight, too, to dominant wrestler Phil Davis in October 2014.
Four days after the Davis loss, Teixeira turned 35, and at that point many wrote him off. The feeling was Teixeira had his nice UFC run, got a title shot and would eventually fade away like so many others.
What happened instead? Teixeira started making lifestyle and training adjustments that proved all the doubters wrong.
“I’ve always had faith,” Ingrid said. “I always knew that he had the talent. Not that I’m anybody that knows anything. But you could see his drive, his determination. You know he’s something special, regardless.”
TEIXEIRA WAS SPARRING late last month at his gym in Bethel, Connecticut. He did five rounds with a different opponent in each round. Machida, his longtime training partner and friend, was looking on. When Teixeira was done, Machida posed a question.
“I could see his face,” Machida said. “His expression. He was still very fresh. I said, ‘Hey Glover, how do you feel?’ He said, ‘I feel good, man. I could do one more round.’ I said, ‘That’s the time you have to stop training.’ It’s like eating a cake. You have one piece of cake, then you always have a hunger to eat that cake, because you don’t eat the whole thing.”
That cake analogy has been emblematic of Teixeira’s new training strategy. When he was younger, he’d beat himself into the ground during training camp, cut too much weight and come into the fight exhausted.
Teixeira said when he fought Jones he weighed about 240 pounds before he started his camp at American Top Team, and he had to make 205 on weigh-in day. Before a loss to Corey Anderson in July 2018 (his most recent defeat), Teixeira said he dislocated his shoulder three weeks before the bout doing hard Brazilian jiu-jitsu sparring, and he never stopped to rest it.
“When you’re young, the ego gets in the way,” Teixeira said. “You think, ‘I’m a f—ing beast — I can fight right now.'”
After the Davis loss, Teixeira won three straight, but then he was knocked out in 13 seconds by fearsome slugger Anthony “Rumble” Johnson at UFC 202 in August 2016. That led to Teixeira deciding he would do his training camps at his own gym in Connecticut, rather than traveling elsewhere.
Teixeira went 2-2 in his next four fights, relegated to a gatekeeper role in the division. But he was still trying to evolve. Teixeira added meditation to his daily routine.
Nowadays, every morning he wakes up early, grabs his meditation cushion, sits with his legs crossed and zones out.
“It’s super important to him and he doesn’t like to be interrupted,” Ingrid said.
Following the Anderson loss, Teixeira decided to embrace science as well. He began working with the UFC Performance Institute (PI) in 2019, a time frame that coincides with his current five-fight winning streak. Because Teixeira lives in Connecticut and only gets to the PI a few times a year, he’s worked remotely with strength and conditioning coach Kyle Larimer, sports science specialist Roman Fomin and nutrition coach Charles Stull.
UFC vice president of performance Duncan French said Teixeira is one of the most active remote users of the PI among UFC fighters, accessing just about every service the facility offers. Teixeira has an Oura ring, which tracks his sleep and recovery, and is subscribed to the UFC’s Icon Meals program, which delivers just about everything he eats directly to his home.
“His desire to embrace something that was new and novel, I think, was really refreshing and made it easy for our guys to interact with him,” French said. “Since that day, he’s been a super user of our services. It was really insightful on his behalf to say, ‘How can I prolong my career?’ And not just, ‘I can still compete at the top level. I want to push out a few more fights and have a few more paydays.’ But actually, ‘I can still work towards a title.'”
French said when Teixeira first came into the PI for tests, it was clear that his training structure was not perfect, his recovery was “not optimal” and “he was training fatigued.”
“He just wasn’t seeing the benefits of the training strategy that he and his coach were adopting,” French said. “It was a little bit old school. Your classic Brazilian jiu-jitsu — just smash it out and keep driving through the wall.”
Teixeira now starts his training camps at around 220 pounds, making for an easier cut to 205. After working with the PI, he’s not afraid to take a day off for recovery here and there while prepping for a fight.
Teixeira said when he was a kid back in Brazil he would watch soccer, and the players had the benefit of using team-provided nutritionists, strength and conditioning coaches and other programs for peak performance that didn’t exist for MMA fighters until recently.
“You’ve got to evolve,” Teixeira said. “If it’s working, you keep going. But especially at my age right now, I see what can help me. What can I do to be better?”
TEIXEIRA SAYS HE is feeling healthier physically now than when he was supposedly in his athletic prime. He said, half-jokingly, that he might even fight until he’s 50 years old, “like Bernard Hopkins.” That would be much to the chagrin of Ingrid, who has been by his side — either physically or emotionally, and often both — over the course of this long journey.
“He’s competitive,” she said. “But not for nothing, I can’t take many more of these fights. I’m getting older. I’m gonna have a heart attack. I cannot deal with it. When you’re younger, it’s fine. You’re young and you think you’re indestructible. But after 35 or 40 or so — now we’re both over 40 — it’s like ‘Oh my god, something could happen.’ So you start stressing more. The sooner [he retires], the better, as far as I’m concerned.”
Teixeira considered retirement after the Anderson fight, but decided to give it one last run, and he’s had remarkable results. Before Machida left Teixeira’s camp earlier this month, the ex-champ congratulated his friend for becoming “a completely different fighter.”
“I could see his strength is still there,” Machida said. “His speed is still there. And also, he has the experience, which is a lot in favor of him.”
Teixeira has made comebacks to finish three of his last four fights, most recently a third-round submission victory against knockout artist Thiago Santos in November 2020.
He also made a major comeback outside of the Octagon: He became an American citizen last year.
It’s a long way from where he was 13 years ago, when people who follow MMA closely lamented that Teixeira might have been wasting his peak years in Brazil, unable to sign with the UFC.
Ingrid, though, said she believes that her husband’s prime is this current run. And there’s only one thing left to accomplish, seven years after his first try: winning the UFC light heavyweight title.
“This time is us making up for lost time, for sure,” Ingrid said. “I think we’ve even said that to each other multiple times. He couldn’t do it then, so he’s gonna do it now. Simple.”
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
ATLANTA — Ronald Acuña Jr. won’t participate in the Home Run Derby, replaced Friday by Atlanta teammate and fellow All-Star Matt Olson.
Acuña is a starting outfielder for the National League and still is expected to play in the All-Star Game on his home field. Olson is a reserve infielder.
Instead of Acuña, Olson will try to become the first Atlanta player to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night. He could become the fourth to win at home. The All-Star Game is Tuesday night.
Olson competed in the 2021 Derby while with the Athletics. He was eliminated in the first round. The 31-year-old entered the weekend with 17 homers this season.
NEW YORK — Robbed an inning earlier, Cody Bellinger wasn’t sure his first three-homer game had been swiped away again.
“I didn’t know at first,” he said. “For that third one to finally get over feels pretty good.”
Bellinger hit three two-run homers against his former team and was denied a fourth by a spectacular catch, leading the Yankees to an 11-0 rout of the Chicago Cubs on Friday night.
Aaron Judge made a trio of outstanding grabs in right field for the Yankees, who have won five straight games following a a six-game losing streak.
Bellinger, whose dad Clay played for the Yankees from 1999 to 2001, is a two-time All-Star and 2019 NL MVP.
He spent 2023 and 2024 with the Cubs, hitting .266 with 18 homers and 78 RBIs in 130 games last year while missing time because of a broken right rib. The Cubs traded him to New York in December with $52.5 million remaining on his contract and agreed to pay the Yankees $5 million.
He homered in a three-run third off Chris Flexen and in the fifth against Caleb Thielbar for this 18th multihomer game. Bellinger nearly went deep in the seventh but was robbed by Kyle Tucker on a drive above the right-field wall.
“I was watching it. He timed it up perfect, so I was a little sick about it, honestly,” Bellinger said. “But it was a good catch.”
“Boys were giving me a hard time after he robbed it. Boonie was giving me hard time,” Bellinger added.
A four-time All-Star and a Gold Glove winner, Tucker snatched the ball as a fan tried for it, the spectator clasping both sides of the outfielder’s glove.
“I caught the ball and he caught my glove, so I figured even if I dropped it they’d probably look at it and get it overturned,” Tucker said. “I’ve probably had some encounters with me trying to go into the stands and catching a ball and me hitting someone’s hand or whatever but I don’t know if anyone’s ever actually kind of caught my glove while doing it.”
Bellinger homered in the eighth off Jordan Wicks, just above the red glove of leaping center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and into the dark glove of a kid in the front row.
“The fan just beat to the spot,” Crow-Armstrong said. “He just had a better chance of catching it higher than I did.”
Bellinger, who had rounded first, watched and then smiled when he saw he had hit No. 3.
“Glad the fan caught it before PCA could grab it,” said Bellinger, who met the boy after and got the ball back. “I’ve seen PCA rob so many homers. He’s a freak athlete out there.”
Bellinger is batting .406 over a career-high 16-game hitting streak, raising his average to .285 with 16 homers and 54 RBIs.
He had spoken with his Cubs ex-teammates during batting practice.
“No, no, no revenge,” he said. “Honestly, ultimately it was just fun to be out there. I saw a bunch of guys I hadn’t seen in a while and I shared a bunch of good memories with them for these past two years.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr. and manager Aaron Boone encouraged Bellinger to emerge from the dugout for a curtain call.
“He was a little reluctant, but then the Bell-lin-ger” over the dugout got pretty loud. So I think he succumbed to it,” Boone said. “Belly’s loved being here and loved playing here in a meaningful place to him, going back to his childhood.”
Bellinger turns 30 on Sunday and can opt out of the final season of his contract this fall. With long balls and wide smiles, he seems to have found a home in the Yankees clubhouse.
He tried not to make much of getting the three homers against the Cubs, but Bellinger’s teammates could sense the significance.
“It’s always good to go against your old teammates that you spend a lot of time with, you know, you respect,” Boone said. “To perform right away against them I’m sure probably is a little cherry on top for him.”