Issue 101
May 2013
A Chuck Liddell protege, boxer-grappler Glover Teixeira has a world of fight-winning experience despite owning only three UFC victories. Pete Irving takes a look at his fighting style.
Setting up the overhand
Teixeira’s great timing and angles come from the techniques John Hackleman teaches at The Pit, his famous gym in California. Luring the opponent into throwing and simultaneously unleashing your own shot, so as to make yours unexpected, is just one key to the KO.
Shooto Brazil 25, vs. Marvin Eastman
When Teixeira fought UFC veteran Marvin Eastman in August 2011 in Brazil he continually punished ‘The Beastman’ standing. He finished the bout by hoofing Eastman with a mid-trajectory overhand right as the American stepped in to engage.
Ground ’n’ pound, killing the guard
Teixeira, with his background on the Brazilian national wrestling squad, his schooling at the Ruas Vale Tudo school and finally John Hackleman’s The Pit, brings to the Octagon a mix of unconventional approaches. His anti-jiu-jitsu ground grappling style used against heavyweight grappling great Ricco Rodriguez showed his ability to neutralize the guard when attacking with ground ‘n’ pound, using angles to prevent the sweep or submission and continue to strike.
MMA Against Dengue, vs. Ricco Rodriguez
On the two occasions Glover rained standing ground ‘n‘pound on Rodriguez in Brazil in 2011, he made sure to stuff Rodriguez’s shins under his legs, preventing Rodriguez using an effective butterfly guard by stepping to one side, placing both hooks under the same leg, offsetting his base – and, critically, stopping Rodriguez from sitting up by laying down a barrage of punches with both hands.
‘Pit’ striking
Teixeira’s tight punching from the hip is another of his tools that comes from the unconventional power striking taught by John Hackleman. Echoes of Pit superstar Chuck Liddell can be seen in Teixeira’s punching, with his tight, compact straights and looping-bomb overhand rights.
UFC on Fox 6, vs. ‘Rampage’ Jackson
Teixeira happily engaged with the dangerous striking of former 205lb champ Quinton Jackson at UFC on Fox 6 in January, throwing tight shots in the pocket, rocking Jackson on occasion.
Arm triangle
Although fans have mostly seen his hands in the UFC Octagon, Glover Teixeira originally entered into MMA as a jiu-jitsu expert, refining his striking as his career progressed. He has a fifth of his wins by grappling submission, and a smart arm triangle to boot.
UFC 146, vs. Kyle Kingsbury
Teixiera finished Kyle Kingsbury with an arm triangle in his 2012 UFC debut. As Kingsbury attempted to escape the mount, Teixeira guided the arm across, picked up the side choke and finished the submission by sliding back to side control.
...
