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Glover Teixeira wins split decision over Nikita Krylov at UFC Vancouver

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - SEPTEMBER 14:  (L-R) Glover Teixeira of Brazil attempts a guillotine choke submission against Nikita Krylov of Ukraine in their light heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Rogers Arena on September 14, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC)
(L-R) Glover Teixeira attempts a guillotine choke submission against Nikita Krylov in their light heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Rogers Arena on Sept. 14, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Former light heavyweight title challenger Glover Teixeira won a split decision over Nikita Krylov in Saturday’s UFC co-main event after a competitive three rounds. The win is the Brazilian American’s third of the year.

Afterward, he credited his ability to beat someone over a decade younger than him like Krylov to a simple recipe. “Focus and discipline,” he said.

“Focus and discipline and believe in yourself. Fighting young guys like this isn’t easy.”

Indeed, the fight did not look easy for either man, but Teixeira landed enough strikes and threatened with enough submissions to earn the nod from the judges. Scores were 29-28 (twice) and 28-29 in favor of Teixeira.

In the first round, Teixeira scored an early takedown and then took his opponent’s back. Teixeira sunk both hooks in and forced Krylov to his hands and knees, face-down, two minutes into the contest.

Krylov skillfully defended and escaped the position, and a minute later he was on top in the full mount, landing short elbows to the head of Teixeira. Teixeira himself then turned his own back and stood up, pressing Krylov against the cage and looking for another takedown.

Krylov once more turned the tables, sunk in a rear-naked-choke and took Teixeira’s back. Teixeira fought Krylov’s hands well, escaped and ended up on top pressing against the cage.

Krylov began the second round leading with kicks that Teixeira countered with punches. Teixeira then landed a left hook to the head and Krylov responded with a rear uppercut to the face.

Teixeira soon landed another left hook to the head that sent Krylov reeling. Krylov then landed a head kick upon separation from the clinch.

Krylov landed a punch combo with just over a minute left and then pressed Teixeira against the cage, looking for and scoring a takedown with 30 seconds left in the round.

In the final round, Teixeira connected with a right-cross, left hook punch combination and then jumped guard after locking up a guillotine choke. Krylov escaped and ended up on top in the half-guard before being reversed and pressed against the cage on his back.

Teixeira attacked an arm after attempting to take the back but Krylov escaped, stood up and worked for a takedown against the cage. Teixeira would lock in another guillotine choke with a bit over a minute left which Krylov defended and escaped.

Krylov landed short elbow strikes and punches from on top before Teixeira worked a sweep from the half guard with 15 seconds left and ended the round and fight on top.

Teixeira gave credit to his opponent, admitting that he had hoped to finish the bout. “I was really looking for that submission,” he said.

“But hey, he was a tough son of a gun, hats off to him.”

The win improves Teixeira’s record to 30-7. Krylov’s loss dips his own mark to 25-7.

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