Complete list: Here are Sweden’s 29 UFC fighters throughout history

Alexander Gustafsson

• Career status: Active (UFC, last fight 2022)
• UFC record: 10-8

The most successful Swede to yet compete inside the octagon, and perhaps the best fighter ever to not win the UFC title, is Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson.

Gustafsson made his promotional debut in November 2009, defeating Jared Hamman via a first-round KO.

After losing to Phil Davis in his second fight, “Mauler” put together a six fight winning streak, including a win over former UFC champ Mauricio Rua, to secure a shot for the light heavyweight gold.

On September 21, 2013, Gustafsson squared off against reigning champion Jon Jones in what turned out to be the best light heavyweight title bout in UFC history.

After five incredibly tough and entertaining rounds, he lost the fight via a highly debated unanimous decision. Even though the “Mauler” was robbed of the title, the fight earned him a UFC superstar status, making him immensely popular all over the world.

Guatafsson would fight for the belt two more times, once against Daniel Cormier in another grueling war and later in a rematch against Jones where the Swede got finished.

Gustafsson’s two most recent wins are against Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira – two fighters who went on to becoming UFX champions after losing to “The Mauler”.