Words are heating up between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson, days before they’re to contest the UFC light heavyweight crown at UFC 165.
Jones has questioned his Swedish opponent’s heart in comments made to FOX Los Angeles, according to FOX Los Angeles (h/t Fighters Only).
Phil Davis took his soul, took his heart, took his will to fight away in under five minutes. He tapped out with less than 10 seconds left. I think he was being choked for only 2 seconds, so that showed me that he got claustrophobic in there, he was uncomfortable, basically his will to fight was over. That tells me a lot about his character and what type of heart he has. He’s mentioned that he needs to stick and move and I think it does show about his psychology. I think stick and move is a psychology of the insecure fighter. It shows me he may feel inferior somewhere in his heart and if that’s in there, I will draw it out of him.
Gustafsson has a near flawless career in MMA. Except, however, his one loss to Davis in 2010. But he’s since gone on a solid six-fight winning run that has seen him defeat the likes of Thiago Silva and Mauricio Rua.
That victory, which happened in December last year, has landed him in front of Jones.
This will be Jones’ sixth fight as champion and a victory will break Tito Ortiz’s record for most title defenses in the light heavyweight division.
The champion is known to have had deep personal rivalries with all of his recent opponents, including Chael Sonnen, Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson. However, the run up to his fight against Gustafsson has so far been a relatively civil affair.
Their fight on Saturday will take place at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto where the led signs will be in full effect.
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