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Alexander Gustafsson was once one of the biggest stars in all of the UFC. He featured on the front cover of the EA Sports UFC video game and challenged for the light heavyweight championship on three separate occasions. However, things have changed since then and his next step will be a very interesting one.
'The Mauler' is currently on a three-fight losing streak. He "retired" in 2019 following his loss to Anthony Smith before making an ill-fated return at heavyweight that saw him suffer a submission defeat in the first round. These factors make Gustafsson's next fight a very important one for his career.
The recent losses make it somewhat difficult to tell just what level he is currently competing at. After all, his last two wins were against Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira. Both of those men are older than the Swedish fighter and both have since gone on to win the UFC gold that has famously evaded Gustafsson.
In his return, it's tough to say whether we will get the Alexander Gustafsson who took Jon Jones to the limit, or the man who struggled in his more recent outings. However, should it go well, he has the potential to still be a major player in the light heavyweight division.
Here are five fights we could see Alexander Gustafsson in upon his return:
#5. Alexander Gustafsson vs. Devin Clark
While it might seem odd to pit the multiple-time title challenger against a somewhat unknown prospect, this could be the way to go. Recently, we've seen Anthony Smith rebound from a tough stretch by taking a number of fights against lower-ranked opposition. Why not employ the same strategy with Gustafsson?
Smith's return to form started with a win over Devin Clark. Clark's form has been up and down in his UFC run thus far as he has never won or lost more than two fights in a row. He could provide a great litmus test for 'The Mauler' and let the UFC know just what level their former star is currently competing at.
Giving Gustafsson a lesser-known fighter could be the perfect way to reintroduce him to the octagon. Should he win, he could quickly be put into a higher profile fight with a top-ranked fighter. If he loses, the UFC will have created a new name to watch in the process.
#4. Alexander Gustafsson vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Like Alexander Gustafsson, Ovince Saint Preux is a UFC veteran and he has been in there against some of the biggest names in the division. He has 13 UFC wins at light heavyweight and once challenged for the interim title in a fight with Jon Jones. With that being said, he is now 38 years old and has lost six of his last nine fights.
Perhaps the UFC will go the route of having Alexander Gustafsson fight someone who is not highly ranked but still carries enough name value to get fans interested. If that is the case, this could be the perfect bout given the big spots both men have been in in the past. Fans would likely still consider this fight to be a big deal.
It's somewhat surprising that these two men have not met in the octagon previously, given they have been big names in the division for years. Perhaps now is the time to finally see who would come out on top.
#3. Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jimmy Crute
Jimmy Crute appeared destined for big things when he started his MMA career with a 12-1 record and was quickly put into big-time fights with the likes of Anthony Smith. However, Crute has since lost his last two fights, making his next fight a very important one.
Crute could very easily still have a great career in the UFC. He is only 25 years old and is currently ranked No.14 in the division. This fight would make a ton of sense for him as it would give him the chance to rebound in a big way against a high-profile name. Should he lose, it would likely not hurt his stock too much either.
For Gustafsson, this fight would provide an opportunity to show that he can still hang against a new generation of fighters. He would also get the chance to earn a ranked win against a fighter who has struggled as of late which might make this fight a tempting enough proposition to get 'The Mauler' back into action.
#2. Alexander Gustafsson vs. Paul Craig
Alexander Gustafsson was scheduled to face Paul Craig on September 4 2021. A week prior, however, Gustafsson was forced to withdraw due to injury. Since neither fighter has had a fight since, re-booking this match in 2022 could be the way to go.
The first time around, it was a fight that made a lot of sense. Craig is in the midst of his best run of form to date and likely needs one big win to join the elite of the light heavyweight division. Gustafsson gets a shot at the surging No.11-ranked contender, giving him a chance to show he should still be a top-ranked fighter.
Seeing these two square off would be very interesting for the division and could create an electric atmosphere should it take place somewhere in Europe. Craig appears to be right at the point of his career where a fight with Gustafsson is both intriguing and appropriate.
#1. Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jan Blachowicz II
If Alexander Gustafsson wants the shortest route to the UFC title and is okay waiting a while before his return to action, Jan Blachowicz could end up being the perfect opponent.
Jan Blachowicz is fresh off losing his title to Glover Teixeira and will next face Aleksandar Rakic on March 26. If he loses that fight, a rematch against Gustafsson would provide him with a a big opportunity to get back on track and prove he still belongs among the best light heavyweights in the world.
When these two fought previously, Gustafsson won via unanimous decision. He then followed up that performance with a KO win over current champion Glover Teixeira. If 'The Mauler' wants to make one last run at the belt, a fight with Jan Blachowicz will be hard to turn down.
