Singapore stunner! 42-year-old champion loses UFC crown in all-time epic

Prochazka started the second round with a sensational blitz, shaking the champion with a dizzying attack that could have easily stopped a lesser rival. But Teixeira took it all – flying knees, fists, elbows – and defeated his tiresome opponent with a left hook out of nowhere.

Teixeira turned his positional dominance into brutal and bloody attacks. Towards the end of the round, Prochazka had a massive cut over his left eye, although Teixeira himself was bleeding profusely from his nose.

In the third round, Teixeira continued chasing takedowns, having been outdone when both men stood on their feet. But it was Prochazka himself who twice made his opponent stand on the canvas – only to get him back on his feet both times. Teixeira looked to be in big trouble, especially when he turned a left hook and then a crippling shot to the right body that doubled him up. Prochazka finally took the chance to get his opponent to the ground and knocked the champion down with a vicious fit. But Teixeira survived the incredible damage he had taken and managed to escape submission again and finish the round on top of his rival.

Texiera burst out of the blocks early in the fourth lap, quickly taking out his rival. Prochazka squirmed and narrowly avoided submission, before exploding and showering blows to his downed opponent.

But Teixeira managed to turn their position in the grapple – only for Prochazka to do the same in the closing seconds of the lap.

Not only did the fighters touch gloves at the start of the fifth round, they hugged each other and appreciated the raucous cheers of the crowd.

Teixeira charged forward and landed a deadly combination that seemingly kept the challenger going before committing a huge mistake. The champion tried to grab and take down Prochazka, but the sweaty, slippery bodies saw Teixeira lose his grip and Prochazka somehow ended up on top.

However, Prochazka was deeply troubled and let Teixeira back on his feet. Their incredible battle only came to another level when Teixeira defeated his rival – for Prochazka to turn the tables again and regain the top spot.

And with only 28 seconds to go, Teixeira tapped the rear naked choke.

Teixeira was ahead of the judges’ scorecards entering the fifth round. He said: “He hit me with some body shots that took my gas away. I was gassed.”

But he stated that he would not retire despite the defeat, saying: “Have I looked? Then I will continue!”

“I messed up my left hand, I think there’s something wrong with it,” Prochazka said.

“It’s great, great, great,” he added of his win.

“It was a real war, Glover is a real warrior. I like that,” he finished.

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