Alexander Gustafsson: Jones doesn’t deserve immediate title shot

While Jon Jones is busy trying to clear up the messy fallout from UFC 200, two-time title challenger Alexander Gustafsson believes it would not be fair to give ‘Bones’ an immediate rematch once he sorts out his situation with USADA.

Jones tested positive for two banned substances in a June 16 out-of-competition drug test conducted by USADA, forcing the UFC to remove him from his scheduled UFC 200 rematch with Daniel Cormier just days before the event.

The Swedish light heavyweight discussed Jones’ situation and did not mince words when asked about the former champ’s comeback fight:

“It wouldn’t be fair, giving him a title shot,” Gustafsson said during Monday’s edition of the MMA Hour. “I’m not saying I’m going to get it. I’m just saying, after everything that happened, it’s not fair to other fighters too, who’ve been working their asses off and they’ve been fighting each other. So, not a title shot right away. Just give him a fun fight first and that’s it.”

Gustafsson and Jones locked horns back at UFC 165 in a fight that many fans believed ‘The Mauler’ won on the scorecards. Gustafsson most recently bested fellow European light heavyweight Jan Blachowicz at UFC Fight Night 93.

Fellow Jones foe and current light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier agreed with Gustafsson, claiming ‘Bones’ had burned several of the top 205 pound contenders with his out-of-competition behavior, and must earn their trust back before the UFC schedules him in a title fight.

“Anthony actually talked to me and said he doesn’t feel like Jon deserves anything,” Cormier said on UFC Tonight. “He goes, it’s time to stop coddling this kid, stop giving him things that he doesn’t deserve.

“Anthony and I have been burned by him more than anybody else. And I just truly can’t understand how we could schedule another fight after UFC 200, it being four times in two years. He’s got some work to do, man. He’s got to gain some trust of his peers. We are his peers. We have to go in there and compete against him and we don’t trust him.”

Do you think Jones deserves an immediate rematch once his USADA situation is sorted out? Or should the UFC set an example with the former champ and make ‘Bones’ work his way back to the title? Sound off in the comments section, PENN Nation!