MMA waits for no fighter, and it takes a startling amount of level-headedness and maturity to acknowledge when one isn’t at their peak anymore.
Fighting is a young man’s game, and many MMA fighters paint themselves into a corner by pushing their bodies and continuing to compete well past their prime. This is evidenced by the stunning winning rate of male fighters aged 35 and above in title fights below welterweight—it’s zero percent!
Some, like Alexander Gustafsson, come close to dethroning all-time great fighters like Jon Jones and never reach those heights again. ‘The Mauler’ has plenty of offers on the table – including the newly minted Global Fight League – and he knows his best days are behind him.
- READ MORE: Henry Cejudo threatens to beat up Youtube stars after insulting him backstage at previous event
‘It’s time for the new generation’ … Alexander Gustafsson admits ‘I’m not there anymore’
Speaking with Sveacasino.se, Gustafsson remained mature about his prospects in the GFL and other rival promotions. The Swedish giant knows he’s not on his A-game anymore but is willing to make the most of what he has left.
“I feel I’ve done my part in the [UFC],” Gustafsson revealed. “. . . I see myself as an elite athlete, but I feel it’s the time for the new generation. I feel like I’m not in my top game anymore. . . . The fighters who fight for the UFC need to be on their top level. I’m not there anymore.
“[…] We also have the GFL contract on the table, too. I have some other offers, too. I feel like I’m not going to do this for a very long time, so let’s make the best of it, and squeeze it out as much as possible. Then I’m done.”
Gustafsson gave Jon Jones arguably his hardest fight, almost dethroning the champion in their hard-fought UFC 165 main event. ‘The Mauler’ was one of the best fighters never to touch UFC gold, owning wins over former or future champions Mauricio Rua, Jan Blachowicz, and Glover Teixeira. He ended his UFC run on a four-fight losing streak
Alexander Gustafsson says Jon Jones isn’t afraid of Tom Aspinall
While Gustafsson endured loss after loss leading up to his release from the UFC, Jones continued to find success. Jones defended his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. While ‘Bones’ makes a heavy claim to be the greatest of all time, fans not only cite his cheating violations but that he isn’t too eager to fight interim champion Tom Aspinall as reasons to snub his GOAT status.
Despite this, former Jones rival Gustafsson claims Jones isn’t afraid of the British phenom.
“That [Aspinall] is his next fight,” Gustafsson told Sceacasino.se. “You can’t take away what he’s done before, whether he fights Aspinall or not, what he’s done is just amazing. But it’s still a fight he needs to take. He knows Aspinall is dangerous, I think it’s a matter of what his payday is.
“I don’t think that guy [Jones] is scared of anybody.”
Jones’ potential send-off fight is ironically one of the most dangerous in his lengthy career. Aspinall is bigger, stronger, and faster than Jones and hardly has any tape to study since his average UFC fight time is just over two minutes. It’s easy to believe Jones wants an easy retirement, but fans can be put at ease by UFC CEO Dana White pushing for Jones-Aspinall to happen.