Teixeira batters Smith for TKO win in UFC Fight Night
May 13, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; UFC referee Jason Herzog (center) watches Anthony Smith (red gloves) fight Glover Teixeira (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Glover Teixeira defeated Anthony Smith with a fifth-round TKO in a one-sided light heavyweight bout that headlined the Ultimate Fighting Championship's Fight Night in Jacksonville, Florida on Wednesday.
Like UFC 249 last weekend, the event was held at a near-empty VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena with stringent health and safety protocols in place due to the COVID-19 crisis that has killed more than 82,000 people in the United States.
Smith came into the fight following a 10-month layoff after two surgeries to his right hand and while he began well it was the 40-year-old Teixeira who was in control.
May 13, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Anthony Smith (red gloves) fights Glover Teixeira (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Brazil-born Teixeira floored his American rival will a left hand in the third before a big uppercut in the next round left Smith telling his corner that his teeth were falling out.
Smith gamely came out for the fifth round but Teixeira took him to the ground quickly and the referee moved in to stop the fight to save the American from more punishment.
"It's not how you hit, it's how hard you get hit and keep coming forward," Teixeira, who improved his win-loss record to 31-7 and took home a $50,000 bonus for the Performance of the Night, said. "That's what it's all about.
May 13, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Anthony Smith (red gloves) fights Glover Teixeira (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
"I was hoping (Smith would slow down). The guy hits like a truck, man. But I move my head a lot. I trained so hard."
The UFC's next show at Jacksonville is on Saturday night and will be headlined by the heavyweight contest between Alistair Overeem and Walt Harris.
May 13, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Anthony Smith (red gloves) fights Glover Teixeira (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
May 13, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Anthony Smith (red gloves) fights Glover Teixeira (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY SportsMay 13, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Anthony Smith (red gloves) fights Glover Teixeira (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY SportsMay 13, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Anthony Smith (red gloves) fights Glover Teixeira (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
