![Glover Teixeira grounds and pounds a recent UFC opponent.](https://cdn.businessinsider.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/617906965d1dca0019a127bf.jpg)
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
- Glover Teixeira endured an illegal 43-day journey to get into the US two decades ago.
- The Brazilian, a UFC fighter, called on Hollywood to make a film about his journey
- He perhaps needs a win Saturday – the biggest fight of his life – for the script to end on a high.
ABU DHABI – A veteran UFC fighter wants Hollywood to "make that movie" about his illegal immigration into the US.
Meet Glover Teixeira, a 41-year-old Brazilian grappler who fights for the UFC light heavyweight title Saturday against reigning champion Jan Blachowicz in the main event of UFC 267, which takes place inside Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena.
Teixeira's story includes a 43-day journey from Brazil to the US, crossing the "dangerous" Mexico border, and hoping to avoid the fate of captured people who "get arrested, tortured," and die, he said, according to MMA Fighting.
He was only 19 years old at the time and his family feared for his safety, Teixeira said.
He drank, partied, but said his journey took him "through some scary places" where his guides were "obviously bribing" the locals in countries like Guatemala.
Teixeira's group had to stay in Tijuana, Mexico, for eight days to wait for perfect weather conditions - fog - so that "helicopter and immigration people wouldn't see us," he said.
Teixeira's group paid for the guides and "coyotes" - a term for those who smuggle people across borders - though he claimed there was an opportunity to do it for free.
All they had to do was carry a backpack and deliver it to somebody in San Diego, California, he said. "I think it was drugs or weapon."
Teixeira declined the offer.
Texieira is now one win from becoming a UFC champion
![Glover Teixeira throws a kick during his pre-fight practise session in Abu Dhabi.](https://cdn.businessinsider.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/617ac60746a50c0018d406d1.jpg)
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Once in the States, Teixeira said he fell in love with the country and, before long, started to box.
A friend recommended he fight in the UFC - a firm that specializes in contests involving multi-fight disciplines, which was a concept still in its infancy back then.
"I got my ass kicked," in early fights, Teixeira said, but he eventually started training with Chuck Liddell - one of the first superstar MMA fighters - who recommended him to the UFC boss Dana White.
Many fights later he started punching the teeth out of one opponent's mouth - Anthony Smith.
He is now on the hunt for the win that would define his career as he looks to dethrone Blachowicz this weekend.
![Jan Blachowicz boxes during a pre-fight practise session in Abu Dhabi.](https://cdn.businessinsider.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/617ac57689b91c00185abe2e.jpg)
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
It took a while for Blachowicz to get the respect his resume deserved, as the Polish fighter is on a tear of late, defeating Luke Rockhold, Dominick Reyes, and, significantly, Israel Adesanya.
Speaking at a media day Insider attended Wednesday, at an ornate five-star hotel on Yas Island - mere minutes from the host venue the Etihad Arena this weekend - Teixeira said he was happy to enter this Octagon as the underdog.
Someone who "overcomes the odds" to defeat the champ. "It's a hard thing to do and I'm glad that I'm here," said Teixeira. "And I'm going to get it Saturday night."
He continued: "It's going to be a great fight because the style match-up is amazing. Jan, he likes to come in and finish fights. He goes after people. You know me, the record speaks for itself … I have the most submissions in UFC.
"Somebody's going to get hurt, and it's going to be Jan."
Added Teixeira: "I want to be champion, I'm going to be champion. That's the mindset I have right now."
Teixeira said he's lived "an amazing life" - one almost befitting of a Hollywood screen.
But in this world, it is perhaps only victory Saturday that would provide the ultimate punctuation mark for Teixeira's million dollar script.