Gus to AJ: We’re not in the playground any more
Alexander Gustafsson: “We are not in the playground anymore, it’s not about who is the toughest, it’s about my career, I want to have a long and successful career.”
UFC light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson was scheduled for a rematch with champion Jon Jones, but “The Mauler” hurt his knee, and was replaced by Daniel Cormier, who himself delayed knee surgery in order to fight for the title. Then Jones hurt his knee, putting off the Cormier fight, and Gustafsson wanted back in.
Unfortunately for Gustafsson, the Jones vs. Cormier fight enjoyed a lot of momentum, and the Swede’s wish was denied. Gustafsson recently announced that he had been promised a fight with the winner of Jones vs. Cormier, perhaps even in his native Sweden.
However, UFC president Dana White likes fighters to remain active, and had mused previously that Anthony Johnson vs. Alexander Gustafsson would be a good fight.
Johnson agreed and called out Gustafsson, via Facebook.
@AlexTheMauler I respect you as a fighter but this is business. @danawhite said our fight makes sense. There’s nobody left for us to fight plus the fans are begging for us to fight so let’s give the fans what they wanna see!
In an interview with Sweden’s Expressen.se, Gustafsson declined.
“I have fought both worse and better opponents,” said Gustafsson, as transcribed by David St. Martin for MMAFighting. “Had that fight taken me somewhere I had been the first to accept.”
“Since his return to the UFC after being kicked out, he has beaten Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who passed [his expiration] date a long time ago, and Phil Davis. He needs at least a couple wins more.
“We are not in the playground anymore, it’s not about who is the toughest, it’s about my career, I want to have a long and successful career. You have to think tactically and you can’t just go in and swing against the first best opponent.”
Anthony Johnson kept it going, again via Facebook
What did I just read? Gus must’ve bumped his head. I respect his opinion but one thing is this. I left the playground a long time ago, I’m on the BATTLEFIELD now!
So what do you think UG? How do you like the Gustafsson vs. AJ fight, on a scale of 1-10? And what are the odds of it happening, again 1-10?
