It’s been a lovely month for the UFC’s #1 ranked light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson. He unleashed some arcade-style violence in a KO main event win over Glover Teixeira in Stockholm and promptly used his battered hands to present an engagement ring after the fight. It’s hard to top that, but it sounds like the Swedish MMA star has something that would make for a happy July when that pops up.
Speaking at the UFC Fight Night post-fight press conference, Gustafsson had some harsh words for division standout and controversy magnet Jon Jones. Gustafsson, who fought Jones to a decision loss in their legendary 2013 tilt in Toronto, considers Jones his nemesis.
“He is the biggest enemy. I don’t like him,” said Gustafsson. “I give him that he is the best fighter of all time, he is pound-for-pound the best fighter in our division. Of course, everybody knows that. He never lost, he hasn’t lost yet… He demolished 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.”
It’s a stern critique from The Mauler and you sure as sugar know that his rooting interest will be with someone else at UFC 214.
“That’s why I always tell the guys I hope D.C. wins because I like the guy. He’s a worthy champion,” proclaimed Gustafsson about current titleholder Daniel Cormier. “That’s what I mean when I say [Jon Jones is] the biggest enemy of all time.”
Gustafsson may be rooting for Cormier to take out enemy-collector Jones, but in today’s UFC climate, there’s a case to be made for the Swede to be secretly rooting for a Jon Jones win to set up a potentially more marketable fight. Just saying. Provided there aren’t any last-minute exits, Cormier vs. Jones 2 will finally be set to go down on July 29 in Anaheim, California.
(Via Fox Sports)
