Light heavyweight prospect Glover Teixeira finally signs with the UFC for summer debut

A trip several years in the making is finally complete for Glover Teixeira (17-2). The Brazilian light heavyweight has signed a deal with the UFC to bolster the promotion's roster. Sources close to the situation confirmed the news to ULTMMA.com earlier in the week.

The 32 year old Teixeira will most likely debut with the UFC sometime in the summer. With a 15 fight win streak intact Teixeira is a five star prospect whose time in a major league promotion is long overdue. Visa issues have bogged down Teixeira's career path since 2008.

Teixeira first gained notoriety seven fights into his pro career when he knocked out future Pride star Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (12-10). Teixeira would pick up two more wins in California before he took his career to Brazil in 2008. In his home country Teixeira would mostly compete under the Shooto and Bitetti Combat banners while rumors of US work visa issues followed the light heavyweight every time he fought.

Teixeira capped off his final year on the Brazilian MMA scene with a 5-0 record in 2011. In his last bout Teixeira stopped former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez (48-15) with punches in the main event of MMA Against Dengue. A member of Ruas Vale Tudo, Teixeira was slotted as the number two light heavyweight prospect in MMA in the latest ULTMMA.com top 20 prospect listing.