UFC boss Dana White has cast doubt over Kiwi Israel Adensaya's plans to fight Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title following Glover Teixeira's dominant win over Thiago Santos.
On Sunday (NZ time), Teixeira secured his fifth-straight win by submitting Santos in the third round in the UFC Vegas 13 main event and the Brazilian immediately called after the fight.
But the 41-year-old may be forced to wait after reports emerged last week that Adesanya, the reigning middleweight champion, plans to move up to light heavyweight to face reigning champion Blachowicz.
But Teixeira feels he deserves a chance over Adesanya.
"Dana White, come on man, I'm an old man over here," says Teixeira. "You're going to give the shot to Adesanya and make me wait?
"Five fights in a row, beating these young guys, it's not easy. Give me that title shot."
Afterward, UFC president White admitted Teixeira made a great point and was deserving of a title shot.
"I was sitting listening to him give his interview, he's not wrong," White told ESPN. "It's like, 'I deserve the shot, I've been here forever.'
"He's on a streak, he looked great tonight. What's funny is, every time I count this guy and think that I don't know if you got it in you, he proves me wrong.
"He looked incredible tonight. It's something we need to figure out.
"But I heard him and I agree with him and I'm taking him serious [sic]. I'm not going to doubt this guy anymore."
White's comments were interesting as they come a week after saying Adesanya's next fight will be for the light heavyweight title.
Blachowicz also weighed in and said he would be happy to face either Adesanya or Teixeira.
The Polish champion will not fight until March, due to his partner being pregnant.
"Great fight and incredible run by @gloverteixeira," Blachowicz said on Twitter. "You totally deserve to fight for the title and get [a] taste of the #LegendaryPolishPower.
"If Adesanya can't wait till March, let's go #UFCVegas13."
Adesanya is looking to move up in weight in a bid to entice arch rival Jon Jones, the former light heavyweight king.
