The former light heavyweight contender is training again after a long layoff, and answered questions regarding a potential UFC comeback.
Alexander Gustafsson has been spotted back at Allstars Training Center, igniting speculation that we may see “The Mauler” back in action after years away from the sport.
Gustafsson hasn’t fought since a first round KO loss to Nikita Krylov in July 2022. Prior to that, he hadn’t fought since a 2020 submission loss to Fabricio Werdum. A year earlier, he lost to Anthony Smith. It was a stunning fall from grace for the man who gave Jon Jones one of the toughest fights of his career.
So is Gustafsson looking to set the record straight in a final career push?
“I’m going to be here much more now and focus a little bit on myself and my own training and mainly get back in shape,” Gustafsson said in an interview with Frontkick Online. “I don’t think about the competing part so much. If it comes, it comes, so time will tell.”
“I’m focusing on myself and getting back in shape,” he repeated. “And also I love this game. I love to train and be around the guys and do some grappling, do some wrestling, hit some pads and do some light sparring. I’ve been doing this my whole career, so I’m glad to be back and do what I love to do.”
That sounds a lot more casual than training for a comeback. But the 36-year-old Gustafsson isn’t ruling out a return.
“If a fight is on the table, let’s talk about that and see how it feels and take it from there,” he said. “I have the contract with the UFC. I have been with the UFC since 2009, so it’s been a while. I’m still in the business. I’m still under contract. If I fight, it would be in the UFC.”
Gustafsson holds an 18-8 record (10-8 UFC) and fought for the UFC 205-pound title three times. In 2013 he took Jon Jones to the brink of defeat, losing a razor-thin decision to the G.O.A.T. contender. Then there was a split decision loss to Daniel Cormier in his second title fight, followed by a more definitive loss to Jones via third round KO in their 2018 rematch.