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Title bouts and beautiful knockouts: Here are the most memorable Mauler-moments ever!
Alexander Gustafsson. Photo: Per Häljestam – USA Today Sports and Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Alexander ”The Mauler” Gustafsson is widely regarded as one of the greatest light heavyweights in MMA history. Since his debut in 2009, Gustafsson made 17 appearances in the UFC, fighting nothing but the absolute elite.
Click ”Next” to check out his most memorable UFC moments!
KO’d Jared Hamman in UFC debut
Photo: Stefan Romare (@stefanromaremma) and YouTube (UFC)
Gustafsson made his UFC debut against Jared Hamman on 14 November 2009. The fight barely got started before the Swede dropped his opponent with a straight right punch and won the fight via KO. Talk about a flying start!
Dominating future champ Jan Blachowicz
Photo: Per Häljestam-USA TODAY Sports
In September 2016, ”The Mauler” faced off against the formidable Polish powerhouse, Jan Błachowicz. Gustafsson delivered a masterclass performance and completely outfought the future champion.
After dominating the fight during three rounds, the Swede stood as the winner by unanimous decision, with 30–27 on all scorecards.
TKO-win over undefeated Jimi Manuwa
Photo via Instagram(@alexthemauler) and YouTube (UFC)
In March 2014, Alex clashed with undefeated striker Jimi Manuwa. About a minute into the second round, he dropped Manuwa with a knee and followed up with a barrage of punches in the clinch. The fight was stopped and ”Mauler” declared winner by TKO – and was awarded with both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses.
Manuwa and Gustafsson later became training partners at the Allstars Training Center.
Brutal title fight against Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier celebrates to split decision-win over Alexander Gustafsson. Photo: USA Today Sports
Alexander Gustafsson’s second title shot was a grueling five round war against Daniel ”DC” Cormier. The fight took place in October 2015, and became a bloody back and forth fight where Gustafsson landed two takedowns and dropped Cormier with a crazy knee in the third round.
”It was just a fight I didn’t know what to expect, because the guy was so talented,” Cormier said years afterwards.
The fight could have gone either way, but in the end, ”Mauler” lost by split decision. ”DC” later claimed that the bout had been the hardest of his career.
”I think the fight that truly does define me in my career was the Alexander Gustafsson fight because I had to dig so deep,” Cormier said. ”I think that I went to a place and I went to a reserve that I didn’t have to show very often.”
Boxing-clinic-KO against Glover Teixeira
Photo: Stefan Romare (@stefanromaremma) and via Facebook (UFC )
In May 2017, Alex faced future champion Glover Teixeira in a five round main event.
In the last round, ”Mauler” landed one of the most picture perfect boxing sequences we have ever seen in the octagon. Using his left jab and long right uppercut three times in a row, Gustafsson demolished his Brazilian opponent and finally dropped him to the canvas with a vicious right hook.
Watch the beautiful and brutal knock out here!
First title fight against Jon Jones
Alexander Gustafsson and Jon Jones in their legendary title bout at UFC 165. Photo: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
After eight wins in nine UFC fights, Gustafsson earned a title shot and faced light heavyweight champion Jon Jones in September 2013.
”Mauler” was considered a huge underdog coming into the fight, but turned out to be a way bigger challenge for the champion than any previous contender. Alex took Jones down for the first time in his career, used a stiff jab and great footwork to pick the champ apart, and gave him a bad cut above the right eye.
In the end, Jones won the fight via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46), but many fans and experts felt that Gustafsson was robbed of the title. After the fight, ”Bones” said that the Swede was the hardest fight of his career.
They were both awarded the ”Fight of the Night” bonus and the bout was later named ”Fight of the Year” by World MMA Awards. Gustafsson also won the prize for ”2013 International Fighter of the Year”.
”I’d say Alexander Gustafsson was my toughest opponent,” Jones said years afterwards.
The fight is widely considered to be the greatest light heavyweight title bout of all time, and was inducted to UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing.
This is Alexander Gustafsson
Photo: Troy Taormina – USA TODAY Sports
- Age: 37
- Record: 18-7
- Weight: 205 lbs (93 kilo)
- Height: 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
- Performance of the Night bonuses: 1
- Fight of the Nigth bonuses: 4
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