By Dane McGuire
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira entered retirement after a failed attempt to regain the title against Jamahall Hill at UFC 283 in the main event. Hill’s victory was a unanimous decision, 50-44.
“In reality, I think I’m too tough for my own good,” Teixeira said. “Too tough for my own health. I can’t keep up anymore. I’m going to focus my energy on Alex Pereira. He’s going to keep his belt for a while and then go up to light heavyweight.
“It’s an honor to put the gloves down on the same night as ‘Shogun’ [Mauricio Rua]. I wish we were in the Royce Gracie era where you could just go no rounds and keep going in this s*** but we’re not. I’m just not keeping up anymore.”
After a grueling five rounds, Hill made history by becoming the first fighter from Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series to become a UFC champion.
“Where I came from to get to this, it’s unreal,” Hill said. “Anything’s possible. Hard work, dedication, accountability, don’t let nobody tell you nothing.
“Too many people tried to tell me I couldn’t do it. It was impossible. I needed to win in one round. I couldn’t go five [rounds] — what the f*** you got to say now?”
Hill then paid respect to the former champion.
“The dude is tough as bricks,” Hill said. “I don’t know anybody that could take what I was throwing. It’s just an honor to share this cage with him.”
Hill largely kept the bout on the feet and despite the amount of punishment Teixeira absorbed, he did not sustain any major injuries.
Teixeira’s longtime manager Jorge Guimarães told MMA Fighting he suffered “only cuts”.
“There’s a little injury to the nose but he’ll have that checked once he’s back to Connecticut, but other than that he’s great,” Guimarães said. “He was [in hospital] for some time but the treatment there was awesome.”
Former champion Jiri Prochazka, who won the title from Teixeira before giving it up due to injury, had a simple message for Hill on Instagram.
“Congratulations,” Prochazka said. “I’m coming. I’m coming!”