Alexander Gustafsson isn’t giving up just yet.
After losing to Jon Jones for the second time of his career at UFC 232, which marked his third failed attempt to capture the light heavyweight title, Gustafsson is still confident he can usurp ‘Bones’ from the top spot and claim the light heavyweight throne for himself.
That’s according to Gustafsson’s manager, Nima Safapour, who spoke to MMA Junkie in a recent interview.
“The plan is to come back stronger than ever,” Safapour wrote. “The fight was the fight. We still believe 100 percent that Alex can beat Jones. Just depends on the day. Anyone can win depending on the circumstances of the fight. It was not our day, but we will come back and get the title in due time either from Jon or whoever else is holding the title at that time. Expect to see ‘The Mauler’ back in action soon.”
When asked about Jones’ most recent failed drug test for trace amounts of oral turinabol, which marked the third positive drug test of his career, Safapour echoed the sentiments of Jon’s fellow fighters: “Whatever he is doing, it smells terrible.”
“We hold the same position about Jones as it relates to the doping controversy,” he wrote. “Whatever he is doing, it smells terrible.
“His results were, ‘pulsing,’ in August and September, which means he did not test negative,” he continued. “Does that mean he tested positive on those occasions? Those same tests results were not given to the California commission at Jon’s last hearing, nor was it given to California when he failed his test from December.
“Why are other fighters not having these problems? We are just supposed to believe that Jon is an innocent victim that has the worst luck in MMA history.”
With that said, ‘The Mauler’ still credited Jones for the stoppage victory at UFC 232 and acknowledged that he was the better man on the night. Following the loss, Gustafsson also teased of a move up to the heavyweight division, where former light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier currently reigns as king.