Going into UFC Fight Night 37, conventional wisdom held that with a convincing victory over Jimi Manuwa, Alexander Gustafsson would do his part to secure a rematch with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
After Gustafsson finished Manuwa in the second round at London’s O2 Arena, though, UFC president Dana White threw a wrinkle into the notion. By the sounds of things, Gustafsson is line to get the next shot at the light heavyweight title regardless of who wins the UFC 172 title fight between Jones and Glover Teixeira in April.
“If Jones wins, we have a nasty rematch,” White said at the post-fight press conference. “If [Jones] doesn’t, it’s [Gustafsson] vs. Teixeira.”
Of course, fight fans know by now not to etch these words in stone, as anything can happen, such as when Anthony Pettis was promised the winner of the Frankie Edgar–Gray Maynard lightweight title fight, but had to take a backseat after Edgar and Maynard fought to a draw.
For his part, Gustafsson, who pocketed $100,000 in bonuses Saturday for both Fight and Performance of the Night, seems eager to get another fight with the current champ.
“I want to fight him,” Gustafsson said at the post-fight press conference, “And I want to finish him.”