UFC Fight Night 73: Teixeira defeats Saint Preux via submission

Glover Teixeira recorded his first victory in almost two years, defeating Ovince Saint Preux via submission (rear-naked choke) at UFC Fight Night 73 on Saturday night.

Teixeira was bleeding profusely from his face after Saint Preux dominated the first round, but the 35-year-old rallied in the latter two rounds, dominating the American with a flurry of elbows on the ground.

The veteran Brazilian moved to 23-4, while Saint Preux dropped to 18-7 in front of a partisan crowd. Saint Preux, a former Tennessee football standout won over the Nashville audience Saturday, and appeared to be in full control after the first five minutes.

However, to start of the third round, Teixeira slammed Saint Preux to the ground, then threw a flurry of elbows a minute and a half into the stanza. A seemingly fatigued Saint Preux ceded control, allowing Teixeira to pound away with a series of elbows and punches.

Teixeira then finished Saint Preux in a rear-naked choke, slowly diminishing his opponent in the final 45 seconds of the bout, before Saint Preux succumbed to defeat at the 3:10 mark.

Prior to the fight, Teixeira was the fourth-ranked light heavyweight by UFC, while Saint Preux was ranked sixth. Teixeira's last victory was in September 2013, when he defeated Ryan Bader via technical knockout (punches).

FULL RESULTS

• Glover Teixeira def. Ovince Saint Preux by submission (rear-naked choke), 3:10, Round 3
• Beneil Dariush def. Michael Johnson by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Uriah Hall def. Oluwale Bamgbose by TKO (punches), 2:32, Round 1
• Chris Camozzi def. Tom Watson by unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 29-27)
• Dustin Ortiz def. Willie Gates by TKO (punches), 2:58, Round 3
• Frankie Saenz def. Sirwan Kakai by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)
• Jonathan Wilson def. Chris Dempsey by knockout (punches), 0:50, Round 1
• Marlon Vera def. Roman Salazar by submission (triangle choke), 2:15, Round 2
• Scott Holtzman def. Anthony Christodoulou by submission (rear-naked choke), 2:40, Round 3
• Ray Borg def. Geane Herrera by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Amanda Nunes def. Sara McMann by submission (rear-naked choke), 2:53, Round 1
• Jared Rosholt def. Timothy Johnson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Derek Brunson def. Sam Alvey by TKO (punches), 2:19, Round 1