Alexander Gustafsson gave arguably the toughest challenge of light heavyweight champion Jon Jones’ career, and it wasn’t enough.
Gustafsson (18-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC), a currently retired three-time light heavyweight title challenger, has fought Jones (25-1 MMA, 19-1 UFC) twice. And he doesn’t see anyone in the division dethroning him for now.
“Till now, I am not certain there is someone to beat him,” Gustafsson told MMA Junkie. “But like with everything, there will come somebody.”
“The Mauler” took it to Jones like nobody ever had when he challenged for the 205-pound title in 2013. He lost a unanimous decision at UFC 165 in a fight in which he bloodied and battered Jones.
It was the first time anyone took it to Jones like that and was a fight that many thought Gustafsson won. The two met again five years later at UFC 232, but Jones was able to control Gustafsson with his grappling and took him out in the third round.
With new names like Johnny Walker and Dominick Reyes emerging at light heavyweight, as well as former middleweight champions Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman moving up, Gustafsson thinks that should he decide to return, he has some work to do.
“The division is really interesting now, as there are lot of young guns coming up in the rankings – and also middleweights moving up,” Gustafsson said. “It is really interesting times now. So we old dogs needs to work harder.”
Jones is coming off a split decision win over Thiago Santos in July at UFC 239. He didn’t take much damage, but the fight was tightly contested. And while some thought Jones lost the fight, Gustafsson thought the champion got the job done.
“I thought Jones won, but he only did enough to win like he has always done lately,” Gustafsson said. “But that is also the sign of a champion.”
