Quinton Jackson -- loser of two straight (Jon Jones, Ryan Bader) was looking to end his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) career on a high note at the expense of Glover Teixeira when the two Light Heavyweight fighters collided in the UFC on FOX 6 co-main event TONIGHT (Jan. 26, 2013) from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Make that three because it didn't happen.
"Rampage" claimed that he was in the best shape of his 34-year-old life and warned Teixeira that he was going to knock him out if the Brazilian was bold enough to stand and trade. Teixeira did, for about one minute, before he landed a takedown and immediately took his back, angling for submissions and boxing his ears.
It didn't last long, though, as Jackson escaped and started slinging huge hooks. Teixeira fired back with equal force, but nothing landed clean for either fighter until Jackson went for a half-hearted takedown and Teixeira blasted him with a left hook as he ran away.
Teixeira landed another big shot that wobbled Jackson and then a second that dropped him to his knees. Jackson was able to get back up to his feet and survive the rest of the round, but it was clear that he was still trying to shake off the cobwebs.
To start the second, Teixeira immediately attempted and scored a takedown. Jackson tried to get to his feet as fast as possible like he did in the previous round, but Teixeira stayed on top of him for about two minutes. Once back on their feet, Jackson responded with a solid uppercut, while Teixeira lobbed back another big left hand.
Midway through the round, Jackson appeared gassed, throwing sparingly as Teixeira stayed busy. Jackson invited the punches and Teixeira kept 'em coming -- if Jackson was trying to set a trap it wasn't a very good one. Teixeira continued to get the better of the aspiring boxer as the second stanza expired.
Teixeira, clearly the fresher fighter, came out for the third and final round with energy. Jackson responded with a nice flurry, which compelled Teixeira to go get another takedown and score some more points with the judges. Jackson used the cage to get back to his feet and Teixeira punished him every inch on his way up.
Jackson came off the the cage swinging for the fences, but nothing with significance found its mark. Teixeira's left hook, however, did and it slowed Jackson's momentum. Teixeira then seemingly took over the rest of the round as Jackson faded, sucking wind and hoping to land a Hail Mary shot.
It never came and Teixeira -- who for the most part played Jackson's game -- went on to earn a well-deserved, gritty unanimous decision over the former 205-pound champion.
Not bad for a guy whose biggest "name" victory previously was over a washed up Ricco Rodriguez.
For complete results and blow-by-blow coverage of UFC on FOX 6: "Johnson vs. Dodson" click here.
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