Shamil Gaziev to Meet Tallison Teixeira at UFC Doha on November 21

Shamil Gaziev and Tallison Teixeira are set to meet in a heavyweight bout at UFC Doha on November 21, part of the promotion's upcoming card in the Qatari capital.

Gaziev, a 36-year-old from Bahrain, brings a 15-3 record into the matchup. He trains out of KHK MMA and fights from an orthodox stance, standing six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach. His numbers show a fighter who leans on control as much as volume: he lands 2.9 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy, and averages 1.03 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also attempts 0.3 submissions per 15 minutes.

Teixeira, a 26-year-old Brazilian known as "Xicao," is 9-1 and represents Team Lucas Mineiro. He is orthodox as well, and he holds a significant frame advantage in this pairing at six-foot-seven, or 201 cm, with an 83-inch reach. Teixeira's striking output is notably higher than his opponent's, landing 5.02 significant strikes per minute at 64 percent accuracy. He also averages 2.48 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• The matchup pairs a 36-year-old veteran with three losses against a 26-year-old with one, a clear gap in age and experience.
• Teixeira's size and striking accuracy meet Gaziev's more measured output, setting up a contrast in styles at heavyweight.
• Both men have shown a willingness to take the fight to the ground, with Teixeira averaging more than twice as many takedowns per 15 minutes as Gaziev's already respectable rate.
• For Gaziev, a Bahraini fighter, competing at UFC Doha puts him on a card in his own region of the world.