Alexander Gustafsson delivered his finest performance in years on Sunday when he obliterated Glover Teixeira in UFC Fight Night 109’s main event to put his name back in the discussion with the top light heavyweight title contenders.
Although Gustafsson (18-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) never truly left the title conversation, title losses to reigning champion Daniel Cormier (19-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) and then-champ/now-ex-champ Jon Jones (22-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) put “The Mauler” in the difficult position of trying to work back toward a third crack at UFC gold.
Gustafsson may have done it, though. His one-sided beatdown of Teixeira, which ended in a fifth-round knockout at Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, reaffirmed his desire for a rematch with either Cormier or Jones.
Despite losing to both fighters, Gustafsson’s bouts with “DC” and “Bones” are among the greatest in 205-pound history. Moreover, the Swede pushed both athletes to the brink unlike anyone before or after them. Champ Cormier meets Jones in July’s UFC 214 headliner, and Gustafsson said he’ll be keeping a close eye on the fight.
If it were up to Gustafsson, though, Cormier would retain the belt at UFC 214. Not because he’s clearly the better fighter, but because in Gustafsson’s eyes, he’s a better representative of what a UFC titleholder should be.
“(Jones) is the biggest enemy,” Gustafsson said after UFC Fight Night 109. “I don’t like him. I give him that he’s the best fighter of all time. He’s the pound-for-pound (best) in our division. Everybody knows he hasn’t lost yet. He demolishes everyone he fights.
“But as a person, as a champion, he’s not a champion in my eyes. He’s not a good person in my eyes. I always tell the guys, I hope ‘DC’ wins because I like the guy. He’s a worthy champion.”
Gustafsson fought Jones in UFC 165’s headliner in September 2013. It turned out to be the “Fight of the Year,” with both men going back-and-forth over the course of five rounds. Then-champ Jones retained the belt by unanimous decision, and despite claiming he did essentially no training for the fight, Jones has insisted Gustafsson gave him the hardest fight of his career.
Cormier also credits Gustafsson as being his toughest opponent. The pair went five rounds at UFC 192 in October 2015, and Gustafsson fell just short of winning the belt. He nearly stopped Cormier with strikes during the fight but ultimately was outpointed to a split decision after 25 grueling minutes of action.
The two fights took a lot out of Gustafsson physically, mentally and emotionally. He’s reestablished himself since then, though, by beating Jan Blachowicz at UFC Fight Night 93 in September before the scintillating win over Teixeira.
If Gustafsson does get another opportunity to fight for the belt, it could very well be his last. He’s positive he won’t come up short again, though, and said the experience of his first two title bouts – with the development of his skill set – will make the third time a charm.
“It’s all about the last rounds,” Gustafsson said. “I’ve been so close to winning the fights. I lose a little bit at the end. I’m not going to lose on the finish line again. It’s not going to happen. Tonight I could have gone 10 rounds. I could go 10 rounds next time I fight ‘DC’ or Jones.”
For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 109, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
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