Alexander Gustafsson spent countless months training for Jon Jones before going 25 minutes with him inside the Octagon.
Gustafsson, who recently defeated Jan Blachowicz, believes that the former champion should not receive an immediate shot at the title whenever it is he returns to action. Jones failed a pre-fight drug test earlier this year and was removed from a planned championship match with Daniel Cormier.
“It wouldn’t be fair, giving him a title shot,” Gustafsson said earlier this week on The MMA Hour (thanks to MMAFighting for transcribing). “I’m not saying I’m going to get it. I’m just saying, after everything that happened, it’s not fair to other fighters too, who’ve been working their asses off and they’ve been fighting each other. So, not a title shot right away. Just give him a fun fight first and that’s it.”
Gustafsson, meanwhile, stands at an interesting position in the light heavyweight division. He has lost to Jones, Cormier and top contender Anthony Johnson, but has shined vs. the rest of the division.
“I’m up for suggestions (for my next opponent), so why not?” Gustafsson said. “But let’s see what they say. I’m up for suggestions, so whatever they give me, I’m down with. A second fight with Jones, who knows. It’s going to be good though.”