This week, the news broke that UFC Lightheavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson has softened his stance on holding out to await a title shot and is now open to the possibility of fighting Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson. As is well known by now, Gustafsson pulled out of a title shot against Jon Jones with an injury, and was replaced by Daniel Cormier. Cormier and Jones made a lot of noise before their match was postponed, and Gustafsson has been vocal about getting his title fight back.
It is good that the big Swede has finally gotten a grip on reality. Gustafsson is still just 27 years old and heading into his prime hopefully, and he does not need to add to his recent inactivity. He has fought twice in the last two years, and with Cormier versus Jones now scheduled for January, holding out for the winner of that fight would mean he would be deep into 2015 before he fought again.
Johnson is a real x-factor as a new entry to the top of the Light Heavyweight division. His UFC past includes matches at welterweight, and he had trouble making weight for a middleweight fight with Vitor Belfort and was cut. Thinking of Johnson as a blown up welter or middleweight fighter would be a mistake however, as he is now 8-0 since the Belfort fight, and that includes a win over a UFC level heavyweight in Andrei Arlovski.
Johnson’s considerable head of steam coming into the fight means that the books will likely open the line close, though Gustafsson should be the favorite coming into the fight. Gustafsson, at 16-2 has a loss on his record back in 2010 against Phil Davis, who Johnson has defeated. What is more, Johnson and Davis are similar styled fighters with a wrestling base, and Gustafsson will be forced to dig deep.
Gustafsson took out an aging Mauricio Rua, but other than that, Davis has enjoyed the harder level of competition throughout his career. Gustafsson is focused on Jones and the title shot, but proving he can handle the type of competition he would face as champion is something he needs to do.
In all fairness, that assessment doesn’t include the Jon Jones match, where Gustafsson showed he has the tools and had improved greatly since his only other loss to Davis. He will have his height and reach as big advantages over Johnson and with his solid Jiu Jitsu skills, Gustafsson has more ways to finsh the match.
