Gustafsson, Johnson: It’s too early to think about UFC title shot
The shadow of light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is hanging over tonight’s Ultimate Fighting Championship card in Stockholm, even though he will be a continent away in the United States.
Neither Alexander Gustafsson nor Anthony Johnson will admit to thinking about what lies ahead for the winner of the headliner bout of the Fox network broadcast, but the reward of a title bout against Jones is there for the taking.
Both say it’s too early to start worrying about that.
“I haven’t even thought about Jon, honestly,” Johnson told website kimura.se. “I’ve got a guy that’s 6-feet-5 trying to punch me in the mouth. I’m focused on Gus. I’m not focused on Jon Jones, I’m not focused on the title. I’m just looking at Gus, and that’s it.”
Gustafsson provides plenty of reason for concern. He has won seven of eight, including five by knockout or submission, and will be fighting in his native country as he seeks a rematch against Jones.
Speaking to Fox Sports, he also denied pondering a potential rematch against the champion.
“I don’t even think about him at all,” Gustafsson said. “I don’t have time or room for that. I know Anthony Johnson is going to come in the best shape of his life and better than ever. That’s all I can focus on now. That’s a big threat to me. I’m not thinking about Jon Jones at all.”
Gustafsson has had one title shot. He won two of the first three rounds and gave Jones the biggest scare of his title reign in September 2013 before dropping the final two rounds and losing a decision. He earned the chance to face Jones again when he bounced back to beat Jimi Manuwa in March, but Gustafsson had to withdraw from the Jones fight because of a knee injury.
Jones went on to defeat replacement Daniel Cormier on Jan. 3 and is awaiting the winner of tonight’s bout to determine his next opponent.
But that hasn’t been the reason Jones’ name has been in the news. An out-of-competition test a month before the Cormier fight came back positive for cocaine. The Nevada Athletic Commission was not within its jurisdiction to discipline Jones, and the UFC issued him a $25,000 fine.
Johnson, who was suspended by the UFC from September until November during a domestic violence investigation in a case that was eventually dismissed, said he thinks the UFC was too easy on Jones.
“I think he should have a much deeper punishment,” Johnson said. “People have gotten suspended and punished for things that weren’t near as bad as that, but it’s (the UFC’s) business and they can do whatever they want with that. But in my opinion, the fans are going to start seeing it as somewhat of a joke.”
Johnson’s weight issues during his first stint in the UFC provided many punch lines. He began as a massive welterweight who missed weight at 170 pounds several times. He attempted to move to middleweight but was released after he failed to make 185 pounds before a loss to Vitor Belfort in January 2012.
He moved to the regional circuit and the light heavyweight division, where he looked quite comfortable. Johnson won four straight fights, all by knockout, including a KO of former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski during that stretch.
It was good enough to warrant a return to the UFC, and Johnson has turned in two spectacular performances to work himself into title contention.
The event, which features a middleweight bout between Dan Henderson and Gegard Mousasi, airs on Fox (5) at 5 p.m. Six fights on the preliminary card will air on Fox Sports 1 (Cable 329) at 2 p.m.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.
