Jones-Gustafsson rematch set for UFC 178 in September

Nissi Icasiano

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Jones-Gustafsson rematch set for UFC 178 in September
Despite previously expressing disinterest in fighting a rematch with Alexander Gustafsson, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has had a change of heart

 

MANILA, Philippines – Despite previously expressing disinterest in fighting a rematch with Alexander Gustafsson, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has had a change of heart and agreed to defend his belt against the Swedish contender in the main event of UFC 178.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) officials publicly confirmed the bout booking on Friday morning (PHI Time), with the title fight to take place once again at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada on September 27 (September 28 PH time).

The 26-year-old “Bones” stressed earlier this week that he would like to square off with Daniel Cormier instead of Gustafsson, who earned another crack for the championship gold by stopping Jimi Manuwa via second-round technical knockout (TKO) at UFC Fight Night 37 this past March.

Company chairman Lorenzo Fertitta and UFC president Dana White had to set up a closed-door meeting with Jones and convince him to alter his stance in battling Gustafsson for the second time.

“I think Cormier is the tougher fighter, but the fans want to see me fight Gustafsson. There was never an issue with taking the Gustafsson fight,” Jones said in a statement released by the UFC

The current ruler of the 205-pound weight class faced the most crucial test of his prizefighting career in defeating “The Mauler” by close unanimous decision at UFC 165 in September of last year.

Gustafsson (16-2) has won seven of his last eight outings inside the Octagon and holds notable triumphs over James Te Huna, Matt Hamill, Thiago Silva and one-time UFC titleholder Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Since his mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in November 2007, 13 of his 16 wins have ended by stoppage with ten of them coming by way of knockout.

Jones (20-1) became the first light heavyweight fighter in UFC history to make seven successful title defenses by carving out a lopsided unanimous-decision win versus Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 in April.

The 6-foot-4 American first held the golden strap when he finished Rua with a third-round TKO onslaught at UFC 128 in March 2011 and went on by beating the likes of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, Gustafsson and Teixeira. – Rappler.com

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