Issue 113

April 2014

You’re only as good as your last fight. True for everyone but Sweden’s Alexander Gustafssson. His last bout before winning the coveted ‘International Fighter of the Year’ statuette at the Sixth Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards in February was a defeat. A defeat that has brought him the most respect, fame and money of his career. 

But maybe it is true. Because that loss to Jon Jones for the 205lb belt was a thrill ride over five rounds in Toronto at UFC 165. And good enough to win ‘Fight of the Year’ at the FO World MMA Awards – for which it beat serious competition.

So although Gustafsson’s record shows a defeat, challenging the champion for 25 minutes when many thought he wouldn’t last a round, and missing out on the widely debated judges’ nod has made him one of the UFC’s most successful losers. 

Although Alex still feels like a winner: “I think if it had been a regular fight (three rounds), I think I won that fight. But it was a title fight, I was fighting the best guy in the world, so I basically didn’t do enough to win the fight. It was too tight. I got that feeling directly after the fight too. That’s how it is, but I’ve put it behind me now.”

What does confirm him a winner, and officially marks the MMA world’s respect for his abilities, is his brand-new ‘International Fighter of the Year’ trophy. The striker described the idea of being ‘the leading mixed martial artist from outside of the Americas’ as everything from “great” to “awesome.”

Now, you may think it unjust a nominee with just one 2013 victory can take such a prestigious statuette. But the Sixth Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards’ unique 15-month eligibility period, from October 1st 2012 to December 31st 2013, also accommodates Gustafsson’s decision over Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC on Fox 5 from the end of 2012. 

While dominating the Pride great for three rounds was impressive, you really understand the importance of the Jones victory when you consider the accomplishments of ‘The Mauler’s rivals for that ‘International…’ award. In the same 2012–13 span rising Irishman Conor McGregor, Bellator middleweight champ Alexander Shlemenko and the UFC’s feared Russian lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov all went 3-0, while Japanese grappler Shinya Aoki notched a bracket-best five wins without a defeat.

Gustafsson, who concedes all those men “are great fighters,” knows his title loss is what he’s best known for.

He laughs: “Everybody asks about Jones, and has questions about Jones. But I’m used to it and it’s all good… A lot of doors have been opening since the fight and I’m in a whole other position today in my career.” 

Gustafsson’s success, or lack of, inside the Octagon has peaked interest in him and the sport in his home country. And now it’s also clear the entire industry has taken notice of this powerful, six-foot-four boxer with a taste for the UFC light heavyweight title.

“I’m very happy and very fortunate to be where I’m at today, and getting all that feedback from people, of course,” says double award winner Gustafsson. “But I never think about it that way. I’m just doing what I love to do and I do it every day. And everything that comes with it is just a big bonus for me.”

Trophies for ‘International Fighter of the Year’ and ‘Fight of the Year’ are two very big bonuses indeed.

FIGHT OF THE YEAR

Five rounds of toil for Jon Jones’ UFC title didn’t just earn Alexander Gustafsson a new level of fame, respect and the ‘International Fighter of the Year’ award, it meant he could add the ‘Fight of the Year’ silverware to his collection as well. 

Part of the reason for the bout’s win is down to no one expecting Gustfasson to do what he did. Most pre-fight predictions prophesied some variation of Gustafsson getting taken down and beaten up by the ‘better fighter.’ 

Instead, the Swede did plenty of beating, giving Jones a bloody nose and fat lip on top of the American being taken down for the first time in his UFC career. It didn’t earn ‘The Mauler’ the decision win, or belt, but he did win the hearts of fans.

Before Gustafsson and Jones’ fight in September had even finished people were declaring it the favorite for ‘Fight of the Year.’ And the light heavyweights did look to have it wrapped up until Gilbert Melendez and Diego Sanchez put on a dramatic brawl a month later at UFC 166, and Mark Hunt and ‘Bigfoot’ Silva did the same at December’s UFC Fight Night 33. Suddenly Gustafsson’s gong wasn’t such a sure thing.

Admitting he was starting to worry there was some competition despite being personally “sure” he and Jones had the better scrap, Alex says: “I think they were great fights, very entertaining, great fights. But I still think our fight was the best. If you look at the technicality and the speed and how it went forward and back all the time I think definitely it was the best fight of the year.” 

Of course, unlike some of the World MMA Awards trophies, there are two recipients of the ‘Fight of the Year’ – the winner and the loser of said bout. Picking up the statuette is an added bonus for the victor, but can mean rubbing salt into the wound for the defeated party. 

Not so for Alex, who confessed he was “really excited” about the prospect of adding the silver striker to his mantelpiece back home in Sweden.