MMAjunkie<\/a>). \u201cWe\u2019re all role models here. We have to represent the sport good. I\u2019m not a fan at all. But we\u2019re not here to be friends. We\u2019re here to compete.\u201d<\/p>\nWhile Alexander Gustafsson won’t be sending Jon Jones a Christmas card this year, he can’t deny his upcoming foe’s ability. In fact, he considers Jones the best to ever to do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I say he\u2019s the best, I really believe he\u2019s the best,\u201d Gustafsson said. \u201cThat\u2019s why this fight motivates me so much. This is the best fight \u2013\u00a0I\u2019ve wanted this fight from the start.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gustafsson, of course, is well-acquainted with Jones. The pair fought for five, tooth-and-nail rounds in 2013, with Jones ultimately walking away with a controversial unanimous decision and the light heavyweight belt.<\/p>\n
Gustafsson has been angling for a rematch ever since.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about it, of course, multiple times,\u201d he said. \u201cBut right now, we have a new fight coming up right here. The history is just the past, nothing else. This is it. I\u2019m here to beat the guy that\u2019s never been beaten and beat the best guy out there. I\u2019m motivated. I want to fight right now. I\u2019m feeling great. I\u2019ve never been in this good of shape in my life.”<\/p>\n
At UFC 232, Jon Jones will step into the cage having not fought since July of 2017, when he knocked out light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier with a head kick. Unfortunately, this bout was promptly ruled a no contest when it was announced Jones had failed a pre-fight drug test. The title was returned to Cormier, and after more than a year of deliberation, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), handed Jones a 15-month suspension. Because this suspension was retroactive to the date of his failed test, he was eligible to compete again at the end of this past October. Jones is a fantastic 22-1 (1) overall.<\/p>\n
Alexander Gustafsson, meanwhile, has not fought since May of 2017, when knocked out former title challenger Glover Teixeira in a rousing fight. With this win, the Swedish contender moved onto a two-fight streak, having also recently bested surging contender Jan Blachowicz by decision. Gustafsson is 18-4 overall.<\/p>\n
Who do you think will come out on top when Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson step into the cage for a second time at UFC 232?<\/p>\n
This article first appeared on\u00a0<\/i>BJPENN.COM<\/i><\/span><\/a>\u00a0on 12\/23\/2018.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Alexander Gustafsson is not a fan of Jon Jones, who he’ll battle for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 232 on December 29. The Swedish contender believes professional fighters should be role models, and that Jones’s actions outside the cage make him anything but. \u201cI\u2019m not a fan,\u201d Gustafsson […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54430,"featured_media":295813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[10129,10091,39610],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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