UFC light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson may have been bitterly disappointed not to get an immediate rematch after his excruciatingly close title loss to Jon Jones. However, he’s now being promised the next shot if he scores another win.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the speculation to MMA Fighting.
“Obviously he’s got to win, but yeah, he’s fighting (Jones) next. 100-percent, that’s the next fight,” White said.
Gustafsson’s come the closest yet to unseating the now seven-time UFC 205-pound champion. But after five grueling rounds, Jones took the unanimous decision win when the pair met at UFC 165 in September.
Due to the closeness of the fight, it was initially thought that the Swede would fight Jones again immediately. However, Jones will now face Glover Teixeira instead, possibly sometime next March.
In the meantime, Gustafsson will have to step in the cage against a different opponent.
Phil Davis is one name that immediately pops to mind. He stands fourth in the division, with Gustafsson second, and already beat the Swede when the pair met in 2010. However, they have since become training partners and a fight between the two is unlikely.
Gustafsson spoke about this on Monday’s MMA Hour.
“We’re close friends, we’re teammates, and I would prefer not to fight him,” he said. “If the UFC wants us to fight for a title or, who knows what the future will bring, we will take that question then, but I will not fight Phil Davis if it’s up to me.”
Gustafsson confirmed that the pair are still training partners at Alliance.
Other immediate opponents for Gus that come to mind are former Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi, who was due to fight the Mauler in April. Or Brazilian Antonio Rogerio Nogueira who was also set to face Gustafsson earlier this year, but had to pull out due to an injury.
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