Jon Jones: Gustafsson Fight Was My Strongest Showing

Jon Jones spoke with ESPN’s MMA Live to talk about his upcoming rematch with Alexander Gustafsson and how he has learned from the situation, including the UFC’s tactics they used to get the bout agreed upon.

“I think it was handled the way it had to be. The UFC had to do their certain strategies and things to get the fight done and I had to do my own strategy to get the fight agreed upon. We ultimately came up with something that worked for both of us. Now the fans get what they wanted, which is most important.

“I’m always learning. Every scenario that I’ve faced in my career is educational for me and I just take it all in and try to apply it for the future.”

When asked about his first fight with Gustafsson the champ had the following to say:

“[Gustafsson] took me down right away in the first round, scoring on me more than I’ve ever been scored on, right in the first round. Yea, I knew it was going to be a tough fight right away.

“My biggest takeaway is just to train harder than I did last time. Give it my full undivided attention and I believe if I simply do that everything’s going to work out.”

“In some ways that Gustafsson fight was my strongest showing,” said Jones. “To finish that fight the way I finished it and display the heart that I did to remain being the champion, to beat Tito Ortiz’ [most consecutive UFC light heavyweight title defenses] record that very same night. I would give that [fight] one of my top showings.”

Jon Jones has proven to be the pound for pound best fighter on the planet time and time again, however the only opponent he hasn’t dominated was Gustafsson, but Bones plans on changing that in their rematch.

“A successful showing for me is just for me to go out there and dominate. I’ve been able to dominate everyone I’ve ever faced except for Gustafsson in that first fight and success for me is to not only win this fight, but to dominate it.”