UFC on FOX 14 results: Anthony Johnson absolutely mauls Alexander Gustafsson

Anthony Johnson

STOCKHOLM – Anthony Johnson secured his spot as the next UFC light heavyweight title challenger, stopping Alexander Gustafsson to earn a fight with champ Jon Jones.

A flurry of punches to the downed Gustafsson (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) sealed the deal at the 2:15 mark of the opening frame for Johnson (19-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC), who just three years ago was released from the UFC for a third time failing to make weight.

“Jon Jones, I hope you get well brother,” said Johnson, referring to the champ’s recent trip to rehab after a positive test for cocaine prior to his title defense earlier this month at UFC 182. “Let’s get this championship on and make the crowd excited about this.”

The light heavyweight bout was the main event of today’s UFC on FOX 14 event at Tele2 Arena in Stockholm. It aired on FOX following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

The impressive finish sealed Johnson’s comeback, which began this past April with a decision over Phil Davis and picked up steam with a first-round KO of Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Johnson has now won his past nine bouts.

Gustafsson, ranked No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings, hoped to secure a title shot denied to him on multiple occasions after he gave champ Jones all he could handle in September 2013 at UFC 165.

Instead, the Swedish fighter, who was given a hero’s welcome from close to 30,000 fans (some of them holding up “Go Alex” signs), found himself on his hands and knees as Johnson, ranked No. 5, pounded away at his back.

A particularly concussive right hand snapped Gustafsson’s neck, forcing referee Marc Goddard to call off the fight.

Afterward, Gustafsson struggled to contain his emotions.

“I felt great for the few minutes we fought, and he just caught me,” he said. “I got caught today. That’s what happened.”

The fight took a drastic shift after a brief stoppage from referee Goddard, who noticed Johnson signal his eye had been swiped by Gustafsson’s outstretched fingers. Upon the restart, Johnson landed a hard right hand that dropped the Swede to his knees.

Gustafsson tried to vain to escape, but more heavy shots from Johnson sent him tumbling to the canvas. Goddard gave Gustafsson multiple warnings to improve his position as Johnson punched away.

From the start, Johnson was looking for a knockout blow as Gustafsson circled and tried to evade. Eventually, he found his mark.

“Alex did everything I thought he was going to do,” Johnson said. “He’s an amazing fighter and an athlete. I feel bad, just because he’s crying. I’m an emotional guy, so I feel his pain.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC on FOX 14 results include:

• Anthony Johnson def. Alexander Gustafsson via TKO (punches) – Round 1
• Gegard Mousasi def. Dan Henderson via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:10
• Ryan Bader def. Phil Davis via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Sam Sicilia def. Akira Corassani via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:26
• Albert Tumenov def Nico Musoke via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Kenny Robertson def. Sultan Aliev via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:42
• Makwan Amirkhani def. Andy Ogle via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:08
• Nikita Krylov def. Stanislav Nedkov via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:24
• Mairbek Taisumov def. Anthony Christodoulou via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 0:38
• Mirsad Bektic def. Paul Redmond via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)
• Viktor Pesta def. Konstantin Erokhin via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Neil Seery def. Chris Beal via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 14, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

(MMAjunkie’s John Morgan and Mike Bohn contributed to this report on site in Stockholm.)