Alexander Gustafsson had one goal at UFC Fight Night 37: make a statement. And, safe to say, he did just that. The lanky Swede ripped through Jimi Manuwa en route to a devastating second-round TKO win on Saturday night, then immediately turned his gaze towards the champ, staking his claim as the division’s unquestionable number one contender.
“Jon Jones, I want my title shot again!” Gustafsson exclaimed. “I’m right here! Whenever you want, man. Whenever you want.”
The performance was as dominant as they come, and not surprisingly, a flood of Gustafsson’s contemporaries rushed to Twitter afterward to sing the Swede’s praises. Check out all the reaction from the mixed martial arts community below.
Booom!!! He deserves a rematch with Jones!!! @ufc @UFC_UK
— Kelvin Gastelum (@KelvinGastelum) March 8, 2014
Gustaffson is BEAST!!!!!!!!!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 8, 2014
Good luck @AlexTheMauler in ur title fight. Dang! Haha my time will come. DC
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) March 8, 2014
That knee was nasty! #UFCLondon
— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) March 8, 2014
BEEEEAST @AlexTheMauler @UFC_UK
— Robert Whiteford UFC (@Flyinjudoka) March 8, 2014
This dude @AlexTheMauler has a wide array of weapons in his arsenal. Add in size, high fight IQ & a chin from hell & u have a Swedish beast!
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) March 8, 2014
Hahahhaha awesome finish… Better celebration !
— AL IAQUINTA (@ALIAQUINTA) March 8, 2014
#handspring!!!!
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) March 8, 2014
That was the best flip I have ever seen if the octagon! Congrats to you @AlexTheMauler nice fight!
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) March 8, 2014
Great finish for Gus!!! The front hand spring after…..not so much 😳
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) March 8, 2014
Nice showing by Gus !!! #UFCFightNight
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) March 8, 2014
@AlexTheMauler is one of my favorite fighter @ufc talented beyond all belief ..
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) March 8, 2014
Happy hunting @AlexTheMauler
— Cung Le (@CungLe185) March 8, 2014
Wow @AlexTheMauler!! All 205ers are on notice after that! #UFCLondon @UFCFightPass @ufc
— Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) March 8, 2014
They were BLASTIN!!!!!! Now if @JonnyBones wins we have a NASTY rematch!
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 8, 2014
I think @JonnyBones will lose he’s next fight on purpose just to dodge @AlexTheMauler . He looked awesome tonight! #nextufcchamp
— Tor Troeng (@ThorTheHammer) March 8, 2014
“I want my title shot. Whenever you want!”
— Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) March 8, 2014
JOHNSON TAKES THE GRUDGE MATCH
Close fight until the second half when the obviously harder working fighter won
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) March 8, 2014
I got Johnson winning that fight 2-1 #UFCFightNightLondon #UFCFightPass
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) March 8, 2014
Great fight by Michael Johnson. Good example of putting punches together in combination v. single shots. #UFCFightNight #UFCLondon
— Cody Gibson (@TheRenegade559) March 8, 2014
@FollowTheMenace that’s how you handle that!!!
— Abel Trujillo (@AbelTrujillo1) March 8, 2014
The new-ish counter-punching style of Melvin has served him well recently but MJ didn’t really give much to counter. Johnson fought well.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) March 8, 2014
Congratulations!!!! @FollowTheMenace another big win for the @blackzilians #UFCFightNightLondon #ufcfightpass
— Ryan LaFlare (@RLaFlare) March 8, 2014
WELCOME TO 125, MR. PICKETT
😁😁😁bonus written all over this now @One_Punch
— Robert Whiteford UFC (@Flyinjudoka) March 8, 2014
Sick fight! #FlyweightsRule
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) March 8, 2014
Good scrap from both guys.
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) March 8, 2014
These 2 are BLASTIN!!! Pickett vs Seery
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 8, 2014
WOT A FUCKING FIGHT FROM BITH GUYS 👏👏
— Robert Whiteford UFC (@Flyinjudoka) March 8, 2014
Man Pickett makes every fight a war! Congrats on the win
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) March 8, 2014
My man @one_punch now 1-0 as a flyweight. Chasing that belt. #ufc #contender http://t.co/q0q5J6uLNM
— Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) March 8, 2014
Nice win @One_Punch!!
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) March 8, 2014
What a UFC debut for Neil Seery!!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 8, 2014
Way to go @One_Punch!!! Have to give props to Neil Seery….That dude brought it and on short notice! #ATT #UFC #UFCLondon #UFCFightNight
— Nik Lentz (@NikLentz) March 8, 2014
That’s my boy @One_Punch !!!!! Great debut at flyweight homie. Now go get that belt @ufc @UFC_UK
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) March 8, 2014
SO SMOOTH
Gunnar Nelson is pretty legit #UFCFightNight
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) March 8, 2014
Woooooowwww Gunnar Nelson! @GunniNelson
— Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) March 8, 2014
Gunner making that look easy @UFC_UK
— Robert Whiteford UFC (@Flyinjudoka) March 8, 2014
Gunnar is AWESOME!!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 8, 2014
Really digging @danhardymma commentary. @ufc @UFC_UK
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) March 8, 2014
Nice work @GunniNelson totally destroyed him!
— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) March 8, 2014