“Obviously I was disappointed in the defeat,” Teixeira told Sporting News. “It was my chance for the belt and I didn’t get it. I learned a lot of things from the fight that I have to fix. Win or lose, you always learn something like weight cutting, recovery weight and that’s what the experience makes you. I just have fun fighting and I don’t think that stuff will affect me in this fight at all. I just have to get back on track and win the fight on Saturday.”
Teixeira is known for his one punch knockout power as 14 of his 22 career victories been by either knockout or TKO. The Connecticut resident felt he wasn’t nearly as aggressive as he should have been in the Jones fight and needs to not rely on knocking guys out with one punch.
“I can’t be reliant on a one punch knockout,” Teixeira said. “I just have to put my punches together and set them up a little more. I think when it came to the fight, Jones was pushing me against the cage and I hurt my arm. After that, I was trying to stay against the cage and just rely on those uppercuts because I couldn’t throw an overhand right or right hooks due to my shoulder being in a lot of pain. I think I should have pushed him back and not let him pull the trigger everytime.”
Davis is also coming off a loss to Anthony Johnson at the same UFC 172 card. Teixeira is respectful to Davis and knows what he brings inside the octagon.
“Phil Davis is a good athlete,” Teixeira said. “He’s very good and he always fights top guys in the division. He’s a good wrestler, good ji-jitsu and I think those are his strongest points. That’s the thing I have to avoid the most and keep this fight standing and go get a knockout.”
Steven Muehlhausen is an experienced MMA writer and contributor for Sporting News. Find him on Twitter @SMuehlhausenMMA.
