In addition to securing a new featured attraction for UFC 153, the world’s most prestigious mixed martial arts promotion also locked in the card’s new co-main event on Wednesday evening. According to our partners at USAToday, light heavyweight Glover Teixeira (Pictured) now meets Fabio Maldonado in the October 13th fiesta.
Teixeira was slated to meet Quinton “Rampage” Jackson inside HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, but the former 205-pound king was forced to bow out yesterday with an elbow injury.
Teixeira’s long-awaited big league debut had been postponed due to visa issues, but the Brazilian made up for lost time by quickly disposing of Kyle Kingsbury with a 1stRound arm triangle choke at UFC 146.
The 32-year-old hasn’t lost a scrap since March of 2005, rattling off 16 straight victories during that span.
While UFC president Dana White previously professed nobody wants to fight Teixeira, Maldonado publicly petitioned for the shootout after Rampage’s exit. The veteran has dropped two consecutive bouts, with his most recent defeat coming in a unanimous decision to Igor Pokrajac in May.
Here is UFC 153’s updated lineup:
Preliminary Card:
(Facebook 6:45PM ET/3:45PM PT)
Cristiano Marcello vs. Reza Madadi
Luiz Cane vs. Chris Camozzi
Sergio Moraes vs. Renee Forte
(FX 8PM/5PM)
Joey Gambino vs. Diego Brandao
Francisco Trinaldo vs. Gleison Tibau
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Geronimo dos Santos
Rony “Jason” Bezerra vs. Sam Sicilia
Main Card:
(Pay-Per-View 10PM ET/7PM PT)
Demian Maia vs. Rick Story
Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado
Jon Fitch vs. Erick Silva
Dave Herman vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Glover Teixeira vs. Fabio Maldonado
Stephan Bonnar vs. Anderson Silva