A forgotten face in the UFC may soon be returning to the Octagon.
Entering 2019, David Teymur was among the most promising prospects out of Europe. A perfect run of five straight wins in the UFC left him 8-1 as a professional and with an opportunity to impress in hostile territory against then-future champion Charles Oliveira.
But following strong performances opposite Lando Vannata, Drakkar Klose, and Nik Lentz, the Swedish lightweight was submitted for the first time in his career by “Do Bronx” in their Fortaleza clash.
Teymur notably suffered a broken orbital bone in that bout, but little did anyone know that other injuries would potentially prevent him from ever entering the cage again.
Six years on, during a recent interview with MMANYTT, Teymur finally addressed his layoff and the prospects of an unlikely UFC comeback.
“I was injured. If I wasn’t, that match would’ve looked very different,” Teymur said of his loss to Oliveira, before suggesting a neck injury has since kept him out of action. “If you’ve ever had neck problems, you understand. Wrestling on your neck, striking…it’s not worth it if it’s not healed.
“I’m still in the UFC. I’ve got a contract. I’m not closing any doors,” Teymur added.
At 35 years of age — the same as Oliveira and younger than the likes of Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler — perhaps Teymur still has time to make somewhat of a splash on MMA’s biggest stage, should he choose to resume his career.
