Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger and number two ranked 205-pounder Alexander Gustafsson took to Facebook on Wednesday morning to give his thoughts on the UFC’s decision to strip Jon Jones of his UFC gold and suspend him indefinitely.
The Swede feels for Jones, but also for the rest of the fighters in the sport of MMA.
Alexander Gustafsson feels Jon Jones stripping of belt is ‘tragic for the sport’
“I think it’s very tragic for the sport — for him, himself and for the UFC,” Gustafsson said in a video on his official Facebook page. “It affects all fighters, the whole sport and the organization. I think it’s very tragic and I don’t wish that to anyone — that type of addiction or whatever it is, whatever the thing he has. I only wish that he will get better from this and learn from this.”
Jones has been dropped from the UFC rankings due to all of his wrongdoings, but Gustafsson still believes he is the best in the world. The word ‘tragic’ continued to come up when speaking about the former champ.
“I also want to say that he is the best guy in the world, he is the champion and he is the best pound for pound, no doubt about that. It’s also very tragic because all of the fighters are working very hard to get to that position to face him for the title and to become the world champion. So, he hasn’t lost that title from competition; he lost it because he did stupid things. Even if I go up there and I compete and I win the world title, it’s not the same because you want to get that belt from the best guy in the world, so I think it’s very tragic.”
This isn’t the first time Jones has had a run in with the law. However, it is the first time the UFC has taken such drastic measures. “The Mauler” feels that the Dana White and the rest of the UFC brass made the right decision this time around.
“I think they did the right thing. That was the only thing that they could have done, because so many things Jon Jones has been doing and he’s been getting away with stuff, so how far can he go? It doesn’t do him a favor doing that. This is a favor to him. That you show that this is not acceptable, that you can’t continue doing this while you’re having the world title. You have to represent the sport well, you have to be a role model for young kids. You’re the ambassador for the sport globally basically.”
What’s next for Gustafsson? We know that he will take on Glover Teixeira on June 20 in the main event at UFC Fight Night 69. But he is very interested in the Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier bout at UFC 187.
“I don’t really know. I’m just taking one fight at a time. I want that title shot, I want that belt and that’s my main goal. That’s why I’m doing this, so I’m just waiting and see. I’m very excited for that fight — Anthony [Johnson] against DC [Daniel Cormier] and lets see what happens. I’m on standby.
