Glover Teixeira is confident if, given another chance, he could beat UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones. But when it comes to the duo’s first meeting earlier this year, the Brazilian said the champ simply had his number.

Back in May at UFC 172, Jones handed Teixeira a unanimous-decision loss, though much of the post-event discussion focused on the champ’s eye-pokes during the fight. Even UFC President Dana White had to come to Jones’ defense and suggested fans were being extra hard on the polarizing titleholder.

But Teixeira, who snapped an eight-year and 20-fight winning streak with the title loss, said it wouldn’t have made much difference.

“I don’t think it changed the result,” he told MMAjunkie. “It wasn’t because of eye-pokes that I lost that fight. Jones won that fight. He injured my arm at the start of the fight. He deserves credit for his win. The eye-pokes did bother me because it affected my vision a bit.

“But either way, he would have won that fight. That’s the truth.”

Teixeira (22-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who’s ranked No. 6 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings, meets No. 7 Phil Davis (12-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 179 pay-per-view co-headliner. The bout, which takes place at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanazinho Gymnasium, is an opportunity for Teixeira to quickly get back in the title picture. And though he admits Jones was the clearly superior fighter in their first meeting, he’s confident he could avenge the loss if given the chance.

“Without a doubt,” Teixeira, 34, said. “I believe in my potential. I believe in my knockout power. I learned a lot when I fought him.

“If I faced Jon Jones again, I would have a great chance. I have learned a lot. I know where I made mistakes. Now I’m working my way back. At my age, there isn’t much time left, so I’m running after it.”

Jones, of course, first fights Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 on Jan. 3, and Alexander Gustafsson is also awaiting a potential shot at the belt. Teixeira, meanwhile, needs an impressive win to assure he stays near the top of the division. Davis, who looks to rebound from an uninspired loss to Anthony Johnson in April, could give him the type of quality win he needs.

However, Teixeira knows Davis will be equally determined to rebound from a high-profile loss.

“Phil is a good fighter,” he said. “He’s a good wrestler with good submissions. He’s been near the top of our weight class longer than I have. I can’t take him lightly.

“Phil is always well-trained. He fights very well and moves very well. I’m training very hard and looking to give everything I have to beat him. It will be a great fight, no doubt.”

Davis’ most obvious weapon is his wrestling. The 2008 NCAA Division I national wrestling champion and four-time All-American can dominate and wear down opponents from top position. It’s frustrated more than a few foes during his UFC tenure.

However, Teixeira said he welcomes such a challenge, and he’s ready for it.

“He could very well play that game, so it’s up to me to get a victory, one way or another,” he said. “I’m not one of those fighters who wishes my opponent won’t tie me up. It’s up to me to not let it happen. It’s my obligation as a fighter.

“If he chooses to lay and pray, I wouldn’t complain about it. My obligation is not to let it happen. I’m training very hard for that.”

For more on UFC 179, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.