GLOVERTEIXEIRA is close to completing a fairytale tale by becoming the oldest UFC champion. This story began with a dangerous journey to the United States.
Teixeira, a 19-year-old Brazilian who is challenging Jan Blachowicz to the title of light-heavyweight at UFC 267 Saturday night, left Brazil to seek a better life.
Glover Teixeira, 19 years old, made a 43-day trip from Brazil to the USA
The 41-year old was able to enter the USA via the Mexican border. This was just the beginning of many challenges that would be faced.
MMA Fighting's Trocacao Franca podcast host, stated that the arduous journey was "tense."
"It took me 43 Days to get there. Everyone knows how dangerous crossing the Mexican border is.
"People die, people get arrested, tortured. My mother was concerned but hopeful that my son was pursuing his dream of a better life.
Texeira's difficult journey was made more bearable by his friends and frequent evenings of alcohol drinking.
He said, "I was 19 years old, right?" I didn't care. I was drinking almost every night, and most of the time getting drunk.
"But we had to go through some frightening places. We were on an island in Guatemala, where we met the [natives].
They were friendly people, but you could clearly see that there wasn't any police. Although they treated us very well, the guides clearly bribed everyone.
"It's dangerous. My friends were troublemakers, so we kept telling them that it was dangerous.
Teixeira and his companions eventually reached Tijuana. They were then forced to wait under fog for US Border Patrol to catch them.
He stated that he stayed in Tijuana eight days and waited for the fog to pass so the helicopters and immigration personnel wouldn't see him.
"We had to wait until a strong fog crossed the desert at night."
They eventually crossed the border and arrived in San Diego. However, they were held captive in a small room by the smugglers who demanded more money.
Teixeira was eventually released and flew to Boston, before settling in Connecticut where he resides today.
After settling in the States, Teixeira discovered a passion for mixed martial art after watching some UFC videos.
However, his status as an illegal immigrant meant that he was unable to compete for big-name promotions. This ended in 2011, when he was granted an American visa.
Teixeira would make his UFC debut in May 2012. He submitted Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 146.
This started a five-fight win streak that ended at UFC 172. Jon Jones, a former 205lb champion, was the last to stop it.
Although Teixeira has experienced his fair share in the past since losing to Jones he is well and has reinvented himself in the two years since.
He has now won a second five-fight winning streak, which will probably be his last chance to win UFC gold.
Blachowicz, who is undoubtedly the most underrated UFC champion, would be a great way for the gentle bruiser of his Hollywood story to end.
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