UFC, MMA Legend To Speak About Fitness At Vernon National Night Out

VERNON, CT — A renowned combat sports athlete who has been competitive into his 40s and is known for promoting a lifestyle of discipline over addiction is making an appearance at the 2024 National Night Out celebration in Vernon.

At the event, Mixed martial arts legend and former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira will be helping to kick off the town's "Connection Beats Addiction" campaign to prevent opioid abuse.

Teixeira is a native of Brazil who now lives in the Danbury area and runs Teixeira MMA & Fitness in Bethel.

Vernon is using a portion of its opioid settlement funds to create a comprehensive program to "engage people in constructive, meaningful and rewarding activities so that they build healthy connections with others, making them less likely to use or abuse opioids and other substances," town officials said.

The campaign focuses on treatment, intervention, helping families affected by opioids, drug take-back events, harm reduction and working with the Vernon Public Schools, Vernon Town administrator Michel Purcaro said.

Teixeira will meet fans, sign autographs and advocate for the campaign at Vernon's National Night Out event. He also shares his personal story at such events.

It is slated for Aug. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. at 20 East Main Street in the Rockville section of Vernon.

Said Purcaro, "It takes the ultimate in fitness and preparation for this type of MMA fighting and it is that type of inspiration that Glover is trying to share as part of out campaign — again — to help younger folks see that there is a l alternative getting involved with opioids and other types of substance abuse."

He added, "It's a super human level of physical fitness and disciplined living."

Teixeira often shares the motto, "The pain of discipline is better than the pain of regret."

Vernon has partnered with three people to present the "Connection Beats Addiction" campaign — MMA competitor Rich St. Pierre, Terry Docuette, who owns East Coast Jiujitsu and Cross Training in Manchester and John Gagne of Secret Pages Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Tolland.