Alexander Gustafsson responds to Jon Jones: 'I'm here, waiting for you'

Alexander Gustafsson apparently heard Jon Jones’ message loud and clear.

Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC), who challenges champ Daniel Cormier (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) for the light-heavyweight title at UFC 197 on April 23, recently told MMAjunkie that while beating “DC” is important in order to regain the title, the fight he actually wants most is a rematch with Gustafsson (16-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC).

“I already beat (Cormier) by unanimous decision, so I don’t really have this feeling where I have to put him away or get rid of him once and for all,” Jones recently said (watch the video above). “I just need to fight him because he has the belt right now. That’s really what this is all about for me. I feel that way more about Gustafsson. I really need to fight him again just to get rid of all doubt.”

Jones, No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light-heavyweight rankings (and No. 1 pound-for-pound), beat No. 7-ranked Gustafsson by narrow unanimous decision at UFC 165 in September 2013 in what still stands as his most competitive fight to date. The Swede battered and bloodied “Bones” over five rounds, but he managed to escape defeat when he edged out the decision.

A Jones-Gustafsson rematch has been discussed ever since, and it was actually booked for UFC 178 in September 2014 before “The Mauler” suffered an injury that allowed No. 2-ranked Cormier to step in and fight Jones at UFC 182 the following January.

Although Gustafsson is just 1-3 in his past four fights and has suffered back-to-back losses against Cormier and Anthony Johnson, he still remains one of the top 205-pound fighters on the UFC roster.

Gustafsson is currently without a scheduled fight, but if he’s able to pick up a win in the coming months and if Jones recaptures the belt from Cormier, there’s a good chance a second fight could come together.

Should the situation unfold that way, Gustafsson said (via Facebook) he’d be happy to collide with the sport’s No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter once more.

Gustafsson also commented on his own post: “Just to clear things up guys, I am not calling out Jones, just responding to his challenge. And it is not about the belt. I feel just I have some unfinished business with him, the same that he feels about me.”

For more on UFC 197, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.