Tag: Alexander Gustafsson

UFC announces full ‘Fight Island’ lineup, includes 47 bouts in 15 days

“Fight Island” is real, and now the four cards that will take place there are real, as well.

“Fight Island” is real, and now the four cards that will take place there are real, as well.

UFC president Dana White today announced the complete lineup for the four cards that will take place next month in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The unique setup has been necessitated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has made it difficult to get international fighters into the U.S. to compete.

“I think this is going to be a really unique experience, not just for the fighters, but for us,” UFC president Dana White said during the announcement. “It’s going to be cool. It’s going to be something different. It’s never been done before, and however long this thing goes on, and however long it’s hard to get people in from other countries, we will have these fights at ‘Fight Island’ – Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.”

First up, it’s UFC 251 on July 11, which features a trio of title fights.

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champ [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] – for welterweight title
  • Champ [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] – for featherweight title
  • [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag] – for vacant bantamweight title
  • [autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Paige VanZant[/autotag]

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • [autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Muslim Salikhov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Makwan Amirkhani[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Danny Henry[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Roman Bogatov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Leonardo Santos[/autotag]

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET)

  • [autotag]Alexander Romanov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Raulian Paiva[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Zhalgas Zhumagulov[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Vanessa Melo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Karol Rosa[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Martin Day[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Davey Grant[/autotag]
Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige

The promotion then returns on July 15 with an event headlined by featherweight contenders [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] (21-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC).

The complete lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (10 p.m. ET)

  • Calvin Kattar vs. Dan Ige
  • [autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Carla Esparza[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Abdul Razak Alhassan[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Mounir Lazzez[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Chris Fishgold[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jared Gordon[/autotag]

PRELIMINARY (7 p.m. ET)

  • [autotag]Modestas Bukauskas[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Vinicius Moreira[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Molly McCann[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Taila Santos[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ricardo Ramos[/autotag]
  • [autotag]John Phillips[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Dusko Todorovic[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ryan Benoit[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Diana Belbita[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Liana Jojua[/autotag]
Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo

Three days later, on July 18, the promotion hosts its third card in eight days, when top flyweight contenders [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] (28-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC) meet for a second time with the vacant UFC flyweight title on the line.

The full card includes:

MAIN CARD (9 p.m. ET)

  • Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez – for vacant flyweight title
  • [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Marc Diakiese[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Rafael Fiziev[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Luana Carolina[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ariane Lipski[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Askar Askarov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag]

PRELIMINARY CARD (6 p.m. ET)

  • [autotag]Roman Dolidze[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Khadis Ibragimov[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Nad Narimani[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Joel Alvarez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Joe Duffy[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Montel Jackson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Brett Johns[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Aleksander Doskalchuk[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tagir Ulanbekov[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Davi Ramos[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Carlos Felipe[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag]
Darren Till and Robert Whittaker

Finally, the UFC’s run in Abu Dhabi ends on July 25 with a much-anticipated middleweight contest between former champion [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (20-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and former welterweight title challenger [autotag]Darren Till[/autotag] (18-2-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC).

That night’s full lineup includes:

MAIN CARD

  • Robert Whittaker vs. Darren Till
  • [autotag]Antonio Rogerio Nogueira[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Alex Oliveira[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Peter Sobotta[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Nicolas Dalby[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Danny Roberts[/autotag]

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jake Collier[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Raphael Pessoa[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Justin Tafa[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Movsar Evloev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Mike Grundy[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Bethe Correia[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Pannie Kianzad[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Nathaniel Wood[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Ramazan Emeev[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag]

Alexander Gustafsson out of retirement for Fabricio Werdum fight at heavyweight

Alexander Gustafsson will come out of retirement to fight former UFC champ Fabricio Werdum in a heavyweight bout on July 25.

[autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag] is coming out of retirement, and he’s making a big career change for his comeback.

Gustafsson (18-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC), who fought for the UFC light heavyweight belt on three occasions before retiring in May 2019, will move up to the heavyweight division for his comeback. He draws a big fight for his debut, as he will fight former heavyweight champion [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] (23-9-1 MMA, 11-6 UFC).

MMA Junkie verified the matchup with a person close to the situation following an initial report from Brazilian news outlet Combate. It will take place July 25 on the UFC’s “Fight Island.”

Gustafsson hung up his gloves following a submission loss to Anthony Smith at UFC on ESPN+ 11. The event took place in his native Sweden, and after losing his long-anticipated title rematch with Jon Jones a few months prior, opted to walk away from the sport.

He returns with a fresh coat of paint against Werdum, though, who made an unsuccessful return from an 18-month U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) suspension at UFC 249 in May when he lost to Aleksei Oleinik. The Brazilian gets a rather quick turnaround for the clash with Gustafsson.

With the addition, the UFC’s July 25 lineup now includes:

  • Darren Till vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Mauricio Rua
  • Alexander Gustafsson vs. Fabricio Werdum

UFC on ESPN+ 29 free fight: Anthony Smith chokes out Alexander Gustafsson in enemy territory

Anthony Smith rebounded in a big way from his loss to Jon Jones by submitting Alexander Gustafsson in Stockholm.

After failing to capture the UFC light heavyweight title, [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] bounced back into the win column in a big way.

Smith (33-14 MMA, 8-4 UFC) faced three-time title challenger [autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN+ 11 in Stockholm looking to get back to winning ways in enemy territory.

Smith pressed forward from the very start, as Gustafsson came out typically light on his feet, circling around the octagon. The big Swede tried to hinder Smith’s movement by stabbing at his legs with low kicks, but Smith continued to command the center of the octagon and threatened with big overhand shots.

In Round 2, Smith started to find a home for some of his strikes and backed Gustafsson against the cage with a flurry of punches. “Lionheart’s” high-output, high-aggression approach saw him take the initiative. That aggression was matched by Gustafsson in Round 3 as the two traded heavy shots in the pocket for much of the round.

Round 4, saw Gustafsson switch his attack as he looked to clinch with Smith, but “Lionheart” proved the stronger man at close quarters and dragged the Swede to the mat. Smith then took Gustafsson’s back, flattened him out and sunk in a rear-naked choke for the win.

Smith returns to action for the first time since last June when he headlines UFC on ESPN+ 29 vs. Glover Teixeira this Wednesday night. The event takes place Wednesday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The card streams on ESPN+.

Before he faces Teixeira, relive Smith’s stoppage win over Gustafsson in the video above.

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Alexander Gustafsson calls UFC Hall of Fame induction ‘a huge honor,’ reflects on epic war vs. Jon Jones

Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jon Jones is widely-regarded as one of the best fights in UFC history – and this summer, it’ll be officially recognized as such.

[autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag] vs. Jon Jones is widely-regarded as one of the best fights in UFC history – and this summer, it’ll be officially recognized as such.

The UFC 165 headliner between the longtime light heavyweight champion and challenger will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Gustafsson (18-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) spoke on his induction, calling it an “honor.”

“It’s a huge honor for me to be mentioned in there with those guys – (the best) of all time,” Gustafsson said. “This fight with Jon, we know was one of the best fights ever. It’s big for me. I’m very happy to be a part of it and be up there with all the other guys in that Hall of Fame division. It’s a very big honor for me to be there.

“I learned a lot after that fight about myself. Even if I lost that fight, I still went from basically a no one to someone to people are talking about me. It was a big turnaround in my career for sure.”

What does Gustafsson remember most from the September 2013 showdown? The Swede recalls a mixture of emotional and physical feelings, experiencing exhaustion, pride and disappointment simultaneously.

“I was pretty tired after that fight, first of all. It was my first five-round fight I did,” Gustafsson said. “I was pretty tired and I remember my disappointment when my hand wasn’t raised. At the same time, I felt a lot of pride in my performance. I also felt from the team that even if I lost, it was still a big moment for me and my team. It’s a mixture of feelings, but it’s mostly good. It’s definitely a memory I’ll have with me the rest of my life.”

One of the most prolific moments surrounding his first fight against Jones didn’t actually take place during the fight itself. After both fighters were transported to the hospital, Gustafsson and Jones posed for a picture in the emergency room. The image went viral.

“I was pretty much walking around there, waiting to get out of there – from the hospital,” Gustafsson said. “I think my buddy saw Jon laying on the bed. I was in another room and my friend said, ‘Ah, Jon is over there.’ I looked out and saw him laying there. I went up to him and showed him some respect. We were talking about the fight and my friend asked to take the picture. Then we took the picture.

“If I remember correctly, I think it was more like he gave me some credit for the fight. We also talked about how good the fight was. It went up and down the whole fight. We talked about those details and stuff like that.”

In the video above, check out Alexander Gustafsson’s comments on his UFC Hall of Fame induction.

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Alexander Gustafsson: Trip to U.S. to train in ‘deep waters’ will determine UFC comeback

Three-time UFC title challenger Alexander Gustafsson thinks he still has more to offer the sport of MMA.

Three-time UFC title challenger [autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag] thinks he still has more to offer the sport of MMA. But he won’t step back in the octagon without knowing he still belongs at the highest level.

Gustafsson (18-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) announced his retirement in June 2019 when, in his hometown of Stockholm, he suffered a submission loss to Anthony Smith in the UFC on ESPN+ 11 main event. He pointed to a dwindling drive after a storied career. But even then, the door seemed open for a future return.

Reports began to emerge in late 2019 that Gustafsson was considering a comeback, but he’s been largely tight-lipped in recent months. He recently spoke to MMA Junkie, though, and confirmed that while he hasn’t made a final decision, things are trending in a positive direction.

“I’m (going to be) honest with you: I’m 33 years old and I feel like I’ve got a couple more years in me,” Gustafsson said. “I just have to do it correctly this time, and I was actually looking to go to American before this coronavirus (expletive) happened – to go there and train just to get the feeling again and change the environment. I can’t give a yes or a no, but I’m training and it feels good.”

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Like much of the world, Gustafsson is stuck in lockdown in his native Sweden while the world tries to contain the coronavirus pandemic. He said he’s still getting in minimal workouts around the house, but it’s not the type of work that will help him make any decisions for his fighting career.

In recent years, Gustafsson has remained on home soil for his training camps at Allstars Training Center. Earlier in his career, though, he would frequently visit the U.S. and do either a portion or the entirety of his preparation at Alliance MMA in San Diego, Calif.

Traveling Stateside is not in the cards at the moment, but Gustafsson said he hopes to venture overseas in the near future, because he thinks it’s needed to determine if he’s capable of a comeback.

“I remember that feeling to get away and get that focus in and get that tunnel-vision and go against guys that are actually better than you,” Gustafsson said. “It’s not about age in this sport. It’s about having fun and to keep evolving. I feel like I need to get out there in the deep waters again and test my skills against many guys and get better as a fighter, then see what’s next.”

Gustafsson said he’s quite confident his skills still hold up against the 2020 crop of light heavyweights, despite not owning a win since May 2017. However, he must prove it to himself in practice. Gustafsson said he’s healthy and in a good place from a physical perspective, but said it’s his mind that needs the most work before committing to competing again.

“It’s a mental thing,” Gustafsson said. “That’s the type of athlete I am. I love to be at home and I feel very comfortable being at home around my kids, and I go to the gym. Don’t get me wrong, we have some really tough guys in the gym. But you train with the same guys too long and you start knowing what the guys are going to do. That’s why we’re looking – not even for a fight camp – just go out there to America and train.

“I want to get tested again and get that feeling of being in deep waters. It motivates me a lot, too. It’s definitely a mental thing for me. I’m always prepared – my conditioning is always there and my strength, but it’s a mental thing.”

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The MMA Road Show with John Morgan, No. 262 – Las Vegas – Alexander Gustafsson, T.J. Dillashaw, Mike Afanasiev

“The MMA Road Show with John Morgan” No. 262 features Alexander Gustafsson, T.J. Dillashaw and UFC cutman Mike Afanasiev.

Episode No. 262 of “The MMA Road Show with John Morgan” podcast is now available for streaming and download.

MMA Junkie lead staff reporter John Morgan hosts the show while traveling the world to cover the sport.

UFC cutman and Las Vegas-area firefighter Mike Afanasiev joins John Morgan and Cold Coffee to talk about the ongoing effect of COVID-19 on MMA and the world as a whole. Along the way, hear Morgan’s interviews with new UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag] and former UFC champ [autotag]T.J. Dillashaw[/autotag].

Check it out on iTunes or at themmaroadshow.com. You can also subscribe via RSS.

Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Charles Oliveira and UFC on ESPN+ 28’s other key winners?

See whom Charles Oliveira should fight next after his victory over Kevin Lee at UFC on ESPN+ 28.

After every event, fans wonder whom the winners will be matched up with next.

And with another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for UFC on ESPN+ 28’s most noteworthy winning fighters.

Those winners included [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (29-8 MMA, 17-8 UFC), who submitted Kevin Lee (19-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) in the third round of the lightweight headliner at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil, as well as [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC), [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] (14-3-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC), [autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 8-5 UFC) and [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC).

* * * *

Amanda Ribas

Paige VanZant

Should fight: [autotag]Paige VanZant[/autotag]
Why they should fight: Ribas provided another example why she might be the most promising prospect in the strawweight division when she completely overwhelmed Randa Markos for three rounds for a lopsided unanimous decision win.

Originally, Ribas was supposed to fight VanZant (8-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) on the card, but “PVZ” had another setback with her recurring arm injury and had to pull out. It’s clear Ribas still wants that fight, though, because she repeatedly called VanZant’s name after the win.

Given the situation, it makes sense to give it to her. Ribas is a flourishing star, and VanZant is seemingly on her way out the door of the UFC as she has just one fight remaining on her current contract, and her husband Austin Vanderford has made his home with Bellator MMA. She could soon join him there, and using VanZant’s star power to give Ribas a boost on the way out the door is just smart business.

Nikita Krylov

Alexander Gustafsson

Should fight: [autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag]
Why they should fight: Krylov’s second UFC run continues to be a reflection of his best work. It wasn’t the prettiest of fights, but Krylov managed to take the wind out of Johnny Walker and ride out a unanimous decision win.

The fight marked the first time Krylov has ever won a fight on the scorecards, and in that unfamiliar territory he showed he can shut down a dangerous opponent. Now, it’s time to see if he can use the momentum of this win to make moves in the light heavyweight division.

If the talk of Gustafsson (18-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) returning from retirement turn out to be true, then Krylov would be an interesting welcome back. Gustafsson walked away from the sport last summer following a loss to Anthony Smith, but by all appearances he’s not done. Krylov is a fighter that Gustafsson “should” beat, but Krylov could also rise to the occasion. Either way, we’re learning something important about both men by booking this.

Renato Moicano

Michael Johnson

Should fight: Winner of [autotag]Evan Dunham[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Michael Johnson[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN+ 32
Why they should fight: It was an impressive lightweight debut for Moicano, who dispatched of Damir Hadzovic with a rear-naked choke less than a minute into the bout.

Moicano called out Paul Felder in his post-fight interview, but that doesn’t seem like a fight Felder would care to take at this point. The Brazilian had the right idea shooting for a big name, but it will take more work before he gets those type of fights in the deep 155-pound weight class.

Although neither man is ranked, the winner of April’s UFC on ESPN+ 31 matchup between veterans Johnson (19-15 MMA, 11-11 UFC) and Dunham (18-8-1 MMA, 11-8-1 UFC) would be a great deal of fun. Both men have a mountain of UFC experience and don’t roll over easily, and those are the type of fights Moicano needs to be taken seriously as a contender in his new division.

Gilbert Burns

Santiago Ponzinibbio

Should fight: [autotag]Santiago Ponzinibbio[/autotag]

Why they should fight: Burns netted a signature win for his resume when he cracked Demian Maia with a massive punch in the first round of their welterweight co-main event, setting himself up for the TKO triumph.

The dangerous Brazilian is now 3-0 since he moved up to welterweight, and his performances are only getting better over time. Beating Maia in the fashion he did is rather unprecedented, so it should most definitely set him up for a big-fight opportunity.

Burns called out Colby Covington during his post-fight media rounds, but that one seems unlikely. A name who would make more sense is Ponzinibbio, who has won his past seven fights but has been out of action since November 2018 due to health issues. He recently told MMA Junkie he’d be back soon, though, and Burns would be a fitting matchup for him to come back to.

Charles Oliveira

Donald Cerrone

Should fight: [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag]
Why they should fight: Watch the video above to see why Oliveira should rematch Cerrone (36-14 MMA, 23-11 UFC) next after his main event win.

Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson 1 to be inducted into UFC Hall of Fame ‘Fight Wing’

Jones vs. Gustafsson at UFC 165 is widely considered the greatest light heavyweight fight of all time.

In what will likely not be the only time in his career, [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] is set to become a UFC Hall of Fame inductee.

Jones and [autotag]Alexander Gustafsson[/autotag] will join the “Fight Wing” of the UFC Hall of Fame this summer for their memorable UFC 165 title fight in September 2013, the promotion announced Saturday.

The fight was one of the most epic title bouts in UFC history, with Jones taking a unanimous decision win in what was, at the time, by far the most competitive bout of his career.

“Going into the first Jones vs. Gustafsson fight, fans and media didn’t care about the fight, because they didn’t believe Gustafsson deserved a title shot, and this thing ended up being the greatest light heavyweight title fight in UFC history,” UFC president Dana White said in a statement. “To be there and watch it live was amazing. It was an incredible fight, and both athletes gave everything they had for all five rounds. This fight was such a classic it was named the 2013 ‘Fight of the Year’ and will always be considered one of the greatest fights in combat sports history.

“This fight showed what a true champion Jon Jones was, as this was the first time he was taken into deep waters and truly tested. This fight also put Gustafsson on the map and showed his true potential.”

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Going into the fight, Gustafsson was largely written off as a serious contender. Although Jones would later reveal he barely trained for the fight and was partying in the build-up, Gustafsson produced a stellar effort as the challenger and came close to pulling off a monumental upset.

Jones would retain, though, and go on to finish Gustafsson by third-round TKO in the rematch at UFC 232 in December 2018.

According to the UFC, additional inductees of the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2020 will be announced in the coming weeks leading into International Fight Week this summer, which culminates on July 11.

Jones vs. Gustafsson joins Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonner 1, Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg 2, Mark Coleman vs. Pete Williams, Mauricio Rua vs. Dan Henderson, and Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida in the UFC Hall of Fame “Fight Wing.”

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