Who do you think will win Saturday’s fight between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson?
Cole Henry, Host – MMA Scope Podcast
Until Jon Jones loses, I just can’t see myself picking against him. He has consistently shown that he can deliver in the cage and I’m not sure that 18 months out of the cage will change that. This fight will probably be contested on the feet and Jones has shown that he possesses more weapons there than Gustafsson. I think it will be an exciting fight but in my opinion, Jones will escape with a unanimous decision here unless Gustafsson can score a knockout. I just don’t see Gustafsson outfighting Jones for the majority of five rounds.
Sean Covington, Columnist – Covington’s Corner
Like the Yankees of old, the Shaq and Kobe Lakers and whatever super team LeBron builds and then flops on, people develop game plans to combat champions and those plans fall apart because they are scared and just not championship material; Alexander Gustafsson is one of those people. I believe Gustafsson beat Jones in their first meeting but if he had pulled it all together in the 5th round there would be no debate and the championship belt would have been placed around his waist. Jones has not one care in the world. The UFC has moved heaven and Earth to allow him to compete so what real pressure is on Jones? No matter what happens Jon Jones gets star treatment, if he were to lose, he could piss hot, win two fights and be gifted a title shot quicker than Tbol is out of your (his) system. Gustafsson has to beat a rounded up and supremely confident Jon Jones who had a four-year suspension lifted. Gustafsson can’t win against that no matter how much I and most of the world wants him to.
Christian Moore, MMATorch Contributor
This is a fight where I love both fighters, and in which the fight doesn’t have a possible disappointing outcome. I think either man has a shot, and I think Gus wins the first two rounds, but Jon repeats the Cormier fight and lands a devastating shot that finishes Gus. Jon didn’t even train for Gus last time, while this time he has had a couple of months. You could say ring rust affects Jon, but Gus also hasn’t fought in over a year and a half, so I think “rust” if there is any affects both, but I think Jon gets it done. Although, Gus pulling out a decision wouldn’t surprise me either.
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Michael Hiscoe, MMATorch Managing Editor
I can’t pick against Jon Jones. We know he has turinabol in his system, that can’t hurt his chances, right? While everything would appear to be stacked against Jones – negative media attention, distractions, a long layoff – this is par for the course for Jones going back a few fights now. The question might be, how will all of these external factors affect Alexander Gustafsson. He has been out longer than Jones has and while he looked great in his last outing, you have to wonder if we will get the Gustafsson that laid an egg against Anthony Johnson in his hometown. I’m putting my money on Jon Jones here by decision, but I say that with about a picogram of certainty.
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