UFC Nashville Headliner Tallison Teixeira believes that it will be him or another Brazilian heavyweight that Tom Aspinall de -tone.
The UFC Fight Night Main Event from Saturday offers the chance of a new name to break into the title conflict in the heavyweight division, because newcomer Teixeira only makes his second performance in the Octagon since achieving a contract on the Dana White Contender Series.
After Teixeira's 35-second debut knockout against Justin Tafa, the 25-year-old prospect has had a huge chance against several title challenge Derrick Lewis.
With a victory over Fight Night in Nashville, 'Xicao' expects a rapid indictment for the heavyweight king.
Tallison Teixeira plans to dismiss Tom Aspinall if Jilton Almeida does not do it first
In conversation with MMA who fights before his second UFC fight and first main event, Teixeira outlined his plan to make a quick turnout in the direction of the heavyweight gold.
After he passed Lewis, the leader of all time in UFC Knockouts, 'Xicao' expects a victory in a name such as Curtis Blaydes of Sergei Pavlovich will be the scene for his first chance of championship in 2026.
When he reaches the top, Teixeira is convinced that he will take the title of Aspinall. That is, if one of his countrymen did not come there first.
“Now that Jon Jones has retired and the division is finally rolling, I expect to fight for the belt before the end of next year,” Teixeira said. “Fight Derrick now, and I hope to fight again this year, and next year I will fight for the belt … Maybe the next Sergei or Curtis Blaydes, such a name.
“I think the only one who could stop now (Aspinall) would be 'Malhadinho' (Jilton Almeida),” Teixeira continued. “I don't see him beating (Ciryl). I don't think Sergei wins either. So I think it is most likely to win 'Malhadinho'.
“It's good that the belt would somehow come to Bahia. If 'Malhadinho' does not take his belt, I have it.”
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
It doesn't seem like Jailton Almeida gets his wish to challenge Tom Aspinall
If Almeida gets the chance to prove Teixeira that it is correct in the Octagon, it seems that he has more work to do against a colleague.
After Jones retired and Aspinall became undisputed heavyweight champion, 'Malhadinho' was immediately the most vocal in calling the Englishman. But it seems that another competition has received – probably Gane – nod.
The Brazilian recently went to X and, instead, hinted at a possible title -eliminator against the third of the potential following enemies of Aspinall, Alexander Volkov, instead.
“Good news (IS) is coming,” wrote Almeida on X. “Volkov had already been. I said close to his house in Abu Dhabi, he said in my house in Brazil, both said October or November, so … let's go! I love the fight and ufc loves the fight!
If the two are tied in a fight, it would only leave 'Bon Gamin' as a viable challenger for Aspinall in the coming months.