Tallison Teixeira is gearing up to announce his arrival to the UFC! With an undefeated professional record of 7-0, the Brazilian heavyweight made waves in the regional scene with his thunderous knockout power. Fighting in organizations like LFA (Legacy Fighting Alliance), his skills led him to the DWCS (Dana White’s Contender Series) in 2024. The result? A vicious finish over Arthur Lopes and a ticket to the big show!
Now, under the bright UFC lights, he’s looking to do the same on the biggest stage. But with a last name like Teixeira, questions naturally arise. Is this new heavyweight destroyer related to former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira?
The truth behind Glover and Tallison Teixeira’s connection
Despite the identical last name, Glover and Tallison Teixeira are not related. If they were, the MMA world would be buzzing about a former champion’s relative stepping into the UFC. But there have been no such announcements, no whispers from the fight community, and no family ties to be found.
However, they do share more than just a surname. Both warriors hail from Brazil, a country that breathes combat sports. Glover was born in Minas Gerais, while Tallison comes from Vitoria da Conquista. The connection stops there, but the shared fighting spirit? That runs deep in Brazilian blood.
‘Xicao’s journey into combat sports didn’t start with dreams of UFC gold. According to his conversation with UFC.com, it started with an 8-year-old boy trying to lose weight and learning to defend himself through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From humble beginnings, he became a three-time Brazilian BJJ champion and a two-time Bahia state champion, earning his black belt along the way.
So, what about his nickname? Well, that comes from his childhood as well. In his interview, he revealed, “My name would be the same as my grandfather, who’s called Francisco, so my brother started calling me Xicao which is a nickname in the augmentative, because he thought I would be big. My parents decided not to name me Francisco, but my brother kept calling me that way and it stuck.”
The nickname will now be lighting up the UFC screens when he takes on Justin Tafa at UFC 312 in his debut inside the Octagon. But 6 years ago, a brutal injury almost ended Tallison Teixeira’s combat sports journey.
A look at ‘Xicao’s journey and inspiration to make it to the UFC
In his UFC.com interview, Tallison Teixeira revealed, “Six years ago, I injured my shoulder, broke my collarbone, and had a rupture of every ligament in the shoulder. Many doctors said I’d never fight again…”
But warriors don’t listen to doubt. He clawed his way back, refusing to let fate write his final chapter. Now, he stands on the doorstep of greatness, ready to make a statement in the UFC’s heavyweight division.
His inspiration to make it this far? None other than current undisputed heavyweight champion, Jon Jones. According to ‘Xicao’, “He understood how MMA works better than anyone; the most versatile and malicious fighter in history.” That’s high praise, and it speaks to the type of fighter Teixeira aspires to be—calculated, ruthless, and always evolving.
And once the cage doors lock behind him at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia, the Brazilian heavyweight will try to maintain his undefeated streak against Justin Tafa. One thing is certain—Tallison Teixeira may not be related to Glover, but he’s determined to make the name his own. Will he make an impact, or will Justin Tafa hand him a harsh UFC welcome? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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