Alexander Gustafsson: ‘UFC Did The Right Thing With Jon Jones’
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones and ex-opponent Alexander Gustafsson will eternally be linked to their UFC 165 title clash. “The Mauler” had steamed to a title shot against “Bones”, and the two provided a five-round classic in Toronto, widely regarded as the best 205-pound title fight ever.
Gus got the raw end of a decision from the judges that night, but a rematch has always been near, if not deserved. Anthony Johnson may have rained on his parade this time around, then again Jones getting pinched for hit-and-run recently hasn’t helped himself or the promotion. Jones was subsequently stripped of his title.
Talking during a recent post of social media, quotes from MMAFighting.com, Gustafsson says it’s a tragic situation with Jones:
“I want to say that he is the best guy in the world, he is the champion and he is the best pound for pound, no doubt about that, It’s also very tragic because all of the fighters are working very hard to get to that position to face him for the title and to become the world champion.
“So, he hasn’t lost that title from competition; he lost it because he did stupid things. Even if I go up there and I compete and I win the world title, it’s not the same because you want to get that belt from the best guy in the world, so I think it’s very tragic for the sport, for Jones and for the UFC,’ Gustafsson said he would ‘only wish that [Jones] will get better and learn from this.”
Kind words from the former 205-pound title challenger, and the truth is that a rematch between the two would sell regardless of whether it’s for a belt. Looking to rebound from his recent knockout loss to “Rumble”, Gus is booked in to face Brazilian slugger Glover Teixeira at UFC Fight Night 69.
Back to “Bones”, the decisions from his employers came quickly and are being praised by the percentage of MMA fans. Perhaps the promotion learned from their botched handling of his failed UFC 182 drug test. In a world where big news travels very quick, the UFC is swiftly becoming more savvy to the required amount of eggshells to step on.
Alexander Gustafsson may well be fighting for a title again very soon, sadly for Jon Jones, the future may not be as set in stone.
