Perennial top-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight contender, Glover Teixeira (No. 3), took a high-risk, low-reward fight against dangerous 205-pound up-and-comer, Jared Cannonier, at UFC 208 tonight (Feb. 11, 2017) inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Nevertheless, Teixeira did what he was supposed to do, grinding Cannonier for three full rounds en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Cannonier threw a straight hand to start the action, which Teixeira ducked under as he ripped a left hook to the body. Teixeira was pushing the pace early and, just one minute into the bout, snatches Cannonier’s left left in the center of the cage to secure an easy takedown. Teixeira looked to transition to side control, but Cannonier defended well and boxed his ears from the bottom position. Teixeira was able to get into side control and Cannonier sat up to escape, but in the process he left his neck exposed and the Brazilian pounced on it immediately. It appeared that Teixeira had the guillotine choke in deep, but Cannonier scrambled and was eventually able to escape immediate danger. Teixeira, though, continued to apply intense pressure on the ground, drilling him with punches from side control and making him carry his weight. With 20 seconds remaining in the round, Cannonier was finally able to get back to his feet and then, perhaps realizing the round was lost, threw caution to the wind and blasted Teixeira with a few hard shots that wobbled him just before they headed to their corners.
Teixeira came out a little more tentative for the second stanza as Cannonier fires a one-two combination straight down the middle. That was more than enough for Teixeira, who once again went for — and secured — a takedown in the center of the cage. Teixeira tried to unload some shots, but Cannonier blocked his elbows and just about everything else as he tried to scoot toward the fence to mount a possible escape. He didn’t need to though, because the referee inexplicably decided to stand them up. And immediately Cannonier took advantage, drilling Teixeira with another punch as the Brazilian plodded forward. Teixeira connected with a hard overhand right, then a body blow, just as the round came to a close.
Likely down two rounds, Cannonier more than likely needed a stop to win the match. Of course, Teixeira was well aware of the situation, too, and immediately took him back to the ground to minimize the knockout risks. Once again, though, Teixeira could not get much going from the top position; in fact, Cannonier was able to open up the Brazilian with a shot from the bottom. Teixeira eventually achieved full mount, forcing Cannonier to roll to his belly — then his back — and back to his belly before he was able to get into side control. Unfortunately for him, he was never able to get back to his feet until about five seconds remaining, as Teixeira grinded his way to dominant unanimous decision win.
Clinical.
For complete results from UFC 208: "Holm vs. de Randamie," including play-by-play updates, click here and here.