Alexander Gustafsson isn’t too interested in revisiting his rivalry with Jon Jones.
After expertly finishing Glover Teixeira with a trio of uppercuts on Sunday, Gustafsson told media at the post-fight press conference that he’d be more interested in a rematch with Daniel Cormier and that he doesn’t hold a lot of respect for Jones.
“I don’t like him,” Gustafsson told press after the fight. “I give him that he’s the best fighter of all-time, the best pound-for-pound fighter of our division – of course, everybody knows that. He hasn’t even lost a fight 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.”
Jones and Gustafsson took part in what is considered by many to be the most exciting light heavyweight title fights of all time, and perhaps even one of the best fights in UFC history at UFC 165 in September of 2013. Jones won the fight by unanimous decision, but only after several close rounds and some scares from an underrated-at-the-time Gustafsson. Gustafsson also had a memorable and tightly fought title fight with Cormier in 2015, a fight that Gustafsson seems more interested in running back.
“That’s why I always tell the guys, ‘I hope that DC wins, because I like the guy, he’s a worthy champion.’ So that’s what I mean when I say that he’s the biggest enemy of all-time.”
If Gustafsson is next in line, he will certainly be a very invested spectator when Jones and Cormier fight for the light heavyweight championship on July 29.
Hiscoe’s Analysis: Gustafsson put on a spectacular performance yesterday and absolutely reinserted his name into the light heavyweight title picture after spending some time on the outside looking in – partly due to inactivity but also due to high profile losses to Jones, Cormier, and Anthony Johnson. With Johnson now retired, and with memorable title fights with Cormier and Jones, Gustafsson is in a great position to challenge whoever is champion later this year. Jimi Manuwa is still an option, but Gustafsson does hold a win over him from a few years back and Manuwa may need some more seasoning before being thrown into a title fight. While Gustafsson-Manuwa would be a logical #1 contender fight, it is unlikely to happen as the two have become friends and training partners since they first fought.
MONDAY NOTEBOOK ITEMS…
-Only a little more than a month after his retirement, Anthony Johnson teased a comeback on Twitter Sunday. “I’m getting that itch,” Johnson tweeted. “Show these boy’s how to throw an uppercut the right way!” Johnson holds knockout wins over both Alexander Gustafsson and Glover Teixeira.
-Post-fight bonuses from yesterday’s show: Gustafsson and Teixeira received Fight of the Night and Damir Hadzovic and Bojan Velickovic received Performance of the Night bonuses for their respective third round knockouts of Marcin Held and Nico Musoke.
-Yesterday’s event from Stockholm drew 12,668 fans for a live gate of $1.92 million.
-The full UFC 212 Countdown show, as well as the first episode of UFC 212 Embedded, are now HERE and HERE.
UFC PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO: HERE
NOW CHECK OUT YESTERDAY’S UPDATE: SUNDAY NEWS DIGEST 5/28: Gustafsson vs. Teixeira headlined event overachieved despite lacking star power depth (w/Hiscoe’s Analysis)
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