UFC Fight Night results, highlights: Glover Teixeira survives near knockout to submit Thiago Santos

Teixeira looked like he was on his way out when he flipped into a rear-naked choke for the finish

With a potential light heavyweight title shot on the line, 41-year-old Glover Teixeira managed to pull out another classic performance. Teixeira managed to survive some big scares to submit Thiago Santos in the main event of UFC Fight Night from Las Vegas' UFC Apex facility.

Santos, who was returning for the first time since suffering a knee injury in a split-decision loss to then-champion Jon Jones in July 2019, came out fast and hard, rocking Teixeira in the first round. Teixeira survived the scare and fell back on his grappling, scoring a takedown and dominating the rest of the round from top position.

The grappling of Teixeira would dominate in the second round as well, this time without the scare. Teixeira put Santos down early and remained on top for the entire round before locking in a deep rear-naked choke only to see Santos saved by the bell.

Time running out in the second almost led to a nightmare scenario in the third round when Santos immediately dropped Teixeira with a crushing left hand and followed him to the ground, scoring with a series of heavy punches from the top position. Santos quickly ran out of gas, however, and Teixeira reversed position, ending up on top and shortly after locking in another rear-naked choke.

This time there was no safety to be found as Santos was forced to tap at the 1:49 mark of Round 3.

"Man, his nickname is 'Sledgehammer,' and I'm telling you, every punch this guy throws is a sledgehammer," Teixeira said after his victory. "I don't know, I might have a broken bone in my face right now. It's crazy. It's amazing to fight with him."

The victory ran Teixeira's winning streak to five and seems to set him up to challenge recently-crowned champion Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title -- a belt Teixeira fought for in a losing effort in 2014. However, UFC president Dana White has recently called a fight between Blachowicz and middleweight champion Israel Adesanya "the fight to make."

"Dana White, come on, man," Teixeira said. "I'm an old man here. 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, man."

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CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the UFC Fight Night card. 

UFC Fight Night card and results

• Glover Teixeira def. Thiago Santos via third-round submission (rear-naked choke)
• Andrei Arlovski def. Tanner Boser via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Raoni Barcleos def. Khalid Taha via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Giga Chikadze def. Jamey Simmons via first-round TKO (kick, punches)
• Yan Xiaonan def. Claudia Gadelha via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:45 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Teixeira locks in a rear-naked choke and this one is over! What a wild fight! Official result: Glover Teixeira def. Thiago Santos via submission (rear-naked choke), Round 3.

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:44 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Santos unloads with big punches and Teixeira survives and reverses and he has Santos' back!

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:44 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Santos follows to the ground and is throwing a flurry of strikes from the top and Teixeira is having to defend off his back for the first time in the fight.

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:43 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Round 3: Huge left hand from Santos drops Teixeira!

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:42 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Teixeira locks up a rear-naked choke as Santos gives up his back. It was in deep but Santos was saved by the bell. Unofficial scorecards: 10-8 Teixeira (20-17 Teixeira)

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:40 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Santos still is unable to get off his back and Teixeira passes to side control and continues to grind away.

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:39 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Teixeira drops a series of heavy elbows to Santos' face and he passes to mount again. Now Santos almost gives up his back but instead manages to regain half guard.

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:38 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Teixeira lands a few elbows and more punches as Santos is holding on.

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:37 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Big hammerfists land for Teixeira and he passes to half guard. Santos is trapped on bottom again and doesn't seem to have a clear plan to escape back to his feet.

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:37 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Round 2: Santos opens the round with a leg kick and a push kick to the body but Teixeira lands a left hand and scores a takedown again.

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:35 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Teixeira closes the round on top. It's amazing he came back to likely win that round. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Teixeira

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:34 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Santos manages to get full guard back, but he's trapped with his head against the cage. Teixeira is just peppering him with punches to the body and head.

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:33 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Santos again reclaims half guard but Teixeira is all over him. Big punches and hammerfists land for Teixeira and he has taken this fight over after being badly rocked.

[Nov 8, 2020 at 12:32 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Santos sucks a leg in to get half guard back and Teixeira passes to mount again.