Teixeira: I have Chuck Liddell’s attitude towards retiring

Glover Teixeira got stopped via strikes in his very first fight, in 2002. It did not happen again until August of last year, when he got KOed in 13 seconds by Anthony Johnson at UFC 202. He bounced back with a decision win over Jared Cannonier at UFC 208 February 11, 2017. But he is still 37, with a dozen fights in the UFC over five years.

During a news conference ahead of his fight with Alexander Gustafsson at UFC Fight Night 109 on May 28, Teixeira was asked about retirement.

I’m going to say like Chuck [Liddell] used to say: The day I wake up and don’t feel like going to the gym anymore, then that’s the day I’m going to quit fighting, said Teixeira as transcribed by Mike Bohn for MMAjunkie. Until then I’m going to keep fighting. … I love this sport, I wish I could do it forever. I know eventually I will have to stop, and hopefully I won’t be one of those fighters that’s knocked out and not so good any more and past their prime and everything. But I’m feeling great so I don’t have a plan to stop yet.

With my age and my loss to Johnson I haven’t shown enough. You know the fight game, though. You have a good performance, and everybody thinks you’re ready, you’re going to win the title and be the champion. You lose, and everybody starts doubting you. So from my point of view I don’t feel like the underdog. I feel like I’m going to go over there and take this fight. Otherwise I wouldn’t take the fight.

He’s a tough fighter – I always respect him. I’ve always watched him from the beginning, even before I was in the UFC I’ve watched him because I knew sooner or later I would have to face him.