Alexander Gustafsson: If I Take The Belt Away From Anyone, I Want It To Be Jon Jones

Former UFC light heavyweight title contender Alexander Gustafsson has had some bad luck the past couple of years.

First, he took longtime champion Jon Jones to the limit at UFC 165 in September 2013, losing a unanimous decision that many still feel he won. Many more felt that an immediate rematch was no doubt in order, but the UFC instead applauded Jones’ decision to take on Glover Teixeira in a fight that “Bones” with ease at UFC 172 back in April.

So “The Mauler” was forced to take another fight, going from an elite pay-per-view (PPV) main event to a Fight Pass-aired card when he starched Jimi Manuwa in the main event of March’s UFC Fight Night 37 from London.

The win understandably earned him another shot at “Bones,” and after some long-winded negotiations, the fight was scheduled for September 27’s blockbuster UFC 178 card.

However, Daniel Cormier stepped into Gustafsson’s spot when “The Mauler” tore his meniscus in training.

The Swedish striker said he would wait for his title shot, but when Jones tore his own meniscus and his bout with Cormier, now fueled by the spectacle of a media day brawl last August, was quickly rescheduled for January 3, 2015’s UFC 182 from Las Vegas.

That meant Gustafsson had to take another fight. There was speculation that he would be squaring off against former champion Rashad Evans, but he ultimately agreed to fight the surging Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in the main event of Jan. 24, 2015’s UFC on FOX 14 from his native Stockholm.

The bout is for a perceived shot at the winner of Jones vs. Cormier, but apparently that isn’t set in stone.

Appearing on today’s edition of The MMA Hour (transcribed via MMA Mania), Gustafsson confirmed that he hadn’t been assured of the next shot with a win. He also noted that while it would be interesting to see Cormier shake things up by winning the belt from Jones, ultimately his rivalry with the champ is personal and he wants him to retain the title:

“Well, I think ‘DC’ is a great athlete and a great person, so, like I said, it would be great to see him win because it would mix things up and he’s a great fighter. But at the same time, it’s personal and I want Jones to win because I want to fight him and if I take the belt away from anyone, I want it to be from Jones and not ‘DC’.”

It’s more than understandable if Gus wants to win the title from Jones, because he obviously still feels that the belt should have been his at UFC 165.

However, he’s tasked with the extreme challenge of “Rumble,” who’s won an alarming eight straight fights with little to no resistance from his opponents. Gus’ first matchup with Jones is in the record books; in terms of the evolving fight game, it’s ancient history.

After a series of injuries and unfortunate twists and turns, it will probably be at least two years in between Gustafsson’s title shots if he can get past “Rumble.” That’s light years away from being guaranteed, so “The Mauler” needs to stay focused on the task at hand or he could be quickly passed by.

Will he ever get his long-awaited revenge on Jones?

Photo Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports