After getting a first-round finish of Karl Roberson at UFC on ESPN+ 1, Glover Teixeira put in a request: He wanted to fight fellow countryman Mauricio Rua, hopefully in Brazil.

Considering Teixeira (28-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) is now set to meet Ion Cutelaba (14-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) in Ft. Lauderdale on the main card of this Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 8, it’s obvious he didn’t get any part of his wish. Teixeira, however, isn’t exactly losing sleep over the circumstances.

“They called me, and I’m not the type of guy to ask for fights,” Teixeira told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “They offered it, and I took it.”

It probably helped that the matchup didn’t come out of the blue. Cutelaba was, in fact, Teixeira’s original opponent for UFC on ESPN+ 1 but had to pull out on short notice due to injury. Teixeira was happy with his opponent then and still is, as he believes Cutelaba’s aggressive style can make for an exciting scrap for the fans.

And, when it comes to the Brazilian battle he originally had in mind, Teixeira has scrapped the idea altogether.

“I have Shogun as an idol in the sport,” Teixeira said. “I like his style. He moves forward; he’s very dangerous. And I like to fight that type of style. But right now I don’t think (I want the fight). I want to have ‘Shogun’ as a friend. He’s a really cool guy. I think I’m going to forget that story of fighting him. I’ll fight other guys. Some Americans, Russians, and not a Brazilian idol.”

That isn’t exactly a surprise coming from the laid-back Teixeira, who’s managed to keep himself out of negative headlines for pretty much his entire UFC career. Even when Teixeira did call out Rua, he did it respectfully, explaining he merely wanted to fight a “legend.”

In fact, he made sure to tell that to Rua in person, too.

“I talked to him once, when we were on the same card,” Teixeira said. “I told him, ‘Shogun,’ this thing with me asking to fight you is because I admire you a lot. I think it’d be a great fight. But it’s not personal. I think professionally it’d be good for my career, and that’s it.’

“There really wasn’t anything personal. I think fighting him would be helpful professionally, to show on my record that I’ve fought one of the best in history.”

With that idea done with, though, it’s on to Teixeira’s other career goals. Like, for instance, reclaiming the consistency that he needs in order to make his way back to the top of the 205-pound division.

Teixeira has had two streaks in the octagon. Starting with his debut in 2012, he beat all five foes that came his way – including current Bellator champ-champ Ryan Bader – to earn a stab at Jon Jones’ title. Decision losses to both Jones and Phil Davis made for Teixeira’s first career skid, but he bounced back with a trio of finishes.

Teixeira never suffered two straight setbacks again. A loss to Anthony Johnson in 2016, however, launched him into a see-saw of results that put his recent record at 3-3.

Those stats aren’t lost on Teixeira. Asked about what’s been lacking in order for him to find consistency, he answered playfully: “winning.” But while he acknowledges his bumpy run, he isn’t moping over it.

“Life doesn’t always go the way you want,” Teixeira said. “But I’m looking for that, to get that rhythm going. That’s what I need to get back to the top. Two, three, four wins in a row and maybe, who knows, I can start talking about the belt.”

Teixeira’s approach to the idea of a title, however, is realistic. “I have to dream high,” he says, and he doesn’t think he’s out of the running. But he does know he’s far down the line when it comes to title candidates.

First, he has to win. Then, he has to do that a few times over.

“I know there are a lot of people in front of me,” Teixeira said. “Right now, I just want to get a streak going.”

Teixeira’s passion is certainly still there. At 39, he says he’s constantly in training and always looking for a fight. The problem is when his body doesn’t cooperate – like when his left shoulder acted up right before a scheduled UFC Fight Night 137 headliner last August.

Heading into a quick turnaround after a victorious return, though, Teixeira says he’s had a great camp and is hoping to stay active.

“I’m feeling good,” Teixeira said. “I’m doing a lot of physical therapy for the shoulder, and that’s helping me out a lot. There are injuries that are always there, but they’re no big deal and aren’t injuries that will force me out of fights or even hurt me in them. I’m feeling great.

“I love fighting. I do what I love. I love being here. I’m always training and if I’m healthy and injury-free, I’ll always be looking to fight. For sure, if I’m healthy and nothing happens in this fight, I’ll be back quickly.”

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