If you go around the UFC roster looking for some inspiration, you won’t find anyone as inspirational as Glover Teixeira. The 42-year old is about to defend his Light Heavyweight belt for the very first time at UFC 275, and has revealed some details about his past struggles that are sure to motivate fans around the world.

“Glover Teixeira breaks through- at 42!” is what UFC commentator Jon Anik said after the Brazilian won the Light Heavyweight title in 40th professional fight. Coming from a very small town in Brazil, his victory over Jan Blachowicz was a manifestation of the fruit of hard work.

Speaking ahead of his first title defense against Jiri Prochazka, Teixeira said, ” Dude it’s incredible. I remember I used to work landscape, and we got a terrible job. We had to clean a thicket at a property in New York.”

“Back then I never thought, I dreamed of, a distant dream. An impossible dream- to become UFC Champion. I used to think that I could do jiu-jitsu and become UFC champion. I started back then. I was strong, and I wanted to fight everybody.”

Teixeira joined the UFC roster in 2002, and after almost 20 years,  he achieved his dream of becoming a champion. Along the way, he even lost to then-champion Jon Jones. But despite the setback, he never gave up. After winning five fights on the run, he finally got another shot at gold, and this time he took it.

However, as hard it is to get to the top, it is even harder to stay there. The Brazilian has a very tough test ahead of him in Jiri Prochazka. The number 2 ranked Light Heavyweight has taken the UFC by storm, and has knocked out two former title contenders in his two fights. But the magnitude of the test should no faze Teixeira, as he has done it and seen it all.

Nevertheless, as the UFC heads to Southeast Asia for the first PPV in the region, we can expect fireworks in the main event.