Glover Teixeira regrets meeting Alex Poatan too late.

Glover Teixeira (left) poses with Alex Poatán (right) and light heavyweight belt.
Foto: Reprodução / Instagram

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Glover Teixeira certainly wished he had met Alex Poatan a little sooner. The veteran, former UFC light heavyweight champion (up to 93 kg), began his partnership with the Brazilian towards the end of his career. Even so, he became the main coach of the former Glory champion, helping to guide him to two UFC titles. However, the development wasn't one-sided, as the coach himself also acknowledges technical improvement during that period.

In an interview with the 'Dylan Napoleone MMA' channel, the former fighter highlighted that the partnership could have had an even greater impact on his career if it had started years earlier, revealing that he believes his striking performance and even his career would have been significantly better if he had worked with Poatan at his physical peak, around the age of 30.

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“I even told Alex that. Alex came here when I was already 40 years old, and I said: 'I wish I had met you when I was 30. My striking performance and my career would be much better,'” said Glover Teixeira.

Alex Poatan seeks third UFC belt.

Poatan celebrates his UFC victory. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

Alex Poatan 's first UFC belt came in the middleweight division (up to 83,9 kg). On that occasion, the Brazilian faced his biggest rival, Israel Adesanya , in the main event of UFC 281 , and knocked out the Nigerian in the fifth round, accumulating his third victory over his opponent in combat sports. In the rematch, held at UFC 287 , Adesanya got his revenge, knocked out Poatan and regained the title.

Exhausted by the weight cut, the Brazilian decided to move up a weight class. After defeating Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291 , he received the opportunity to fight for the light heavyweight title against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295. Poatan knocked out the Czech fighter, won the division title (up to 93 kg), and defended it three times.

Later, he was defeated by Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 , but bounced back to reclaim the title at UFC 320. Now, with uncertainty surrounding Tom Aspinall 's return to defend the undisputed heavyweight title, Poatan faces Ciryl Gane in his debut in the division, competing for the interim title.

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