{"id":151101,"date":"2015-06-22T11:23:05","date_gmt":"2015-06-22T18:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=151101"},"modified":"2022-02-04T18:51:03","modified_gmt":"2022-02-05T02:51:03","slug":"alexander-gustafsson-nearly-quit-mma-after-rumble-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/ufcnews\/alexander-gustafsson-nearly-quit-mma-after-rumble-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexander Gustafsson Nearly Quit MMA After “Rumble” Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Alexander Gustafsson is confirmed to be the first challenger for Daniel Cormier’s newly won UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Gustafsson has seemingly jumped over contender Ryan Bader, but a date for his bout with Cormier has yet to be announced.<\/p>\n

However just five months earlier, Gustafsson was actually contemplating retirement. Gus suffered a rough loss in front of a hometown crowd in Stockholm, Sweden when he got knocked clean out by Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. \u201cIt was really bad,\u201d Gustafsson told MMAJunkie<\/a>. \u201cI lost fights before, but this fight was the fight I couldn\u2019t lose. I was supposed to win this fight, but I didn\u2019t. I was thinking about that, to quit the sport. I was really depressed after the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

The loss discouraged Gustafsson professionally and personally. He has lost fights before, but never one at that caliber in front of his home crowd. \u201cIt was a really bad blow for me \u2013 for my career and my personal life,\u201d Gustafsson confessed. \u201cIt was a tough hit to take. The fight I couldn\u2019t lose, I actually lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

“My motivation was gone, basically, so that was the toughest part, to keep on training with no motivation,\u201d Gus continued. \u201cI just wanted to escape from everything, escape from Stockholm, from the media, from everything. I didn\u2019t want to see the gym. It was tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, Gustafsson is feeling inspired to fight and with good reason; It’s not often a fighter coming off a loss gets to fight for the title. Record aside, Gus is ranked second in his division just behind “Rumble”. \u201cMy motivation is on top,\u201d Gustafsson said. \u201cI feel great. I feel great to be back in training, and everything is so much fun…. I\u2019m just a happy guy right now. Everything is fun. Training is fun. Doing everything that comes with MMA is fun right now. So I\u2019m just enjoying my time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you think Daniel Cormier will walk out with the gold? Does Alexander Gustafsson have a shot of walking out with the gold? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!<\/p>\n

Chad Mendes Strips, Gets VanZant Flustered During Important Interview — WATCH!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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