Manager: Alexander Gustafsson can still ‘100%’ beat Jon Jones

In September 2013, Alexander Gustafsson and Jon Jones fought to a narrow decision, with the latter walking away the victor. In December of 2018, in the main event of UFC 229, the pair met again. In this second meeting, Jones won once more, this time by third-round TKO.

Despite these setbacks, Alexander Gustafsson and his team are still very confident he can beat the seemingly unbeatable Jon Jones.

Speaking to MMAjunkie in a prepared statement, Gustafsson’s manager Nima Safapour proclaimed that the three-time light heavyweight title challenger’s confidence is still sky-high.

“The plan is to come back stronger than ever,” the manager wrote. “The fight was the fight. We still believe 100 percent that Alex can beat Jones. Just depends on the day. Anyone can win depending on the circumstances of the fight. It was not our day, but we will come back and get the title in due time either from Jon or whoever else is holding the title at that time. Expect to see ‘The Mauler’ back in action soon.”

In the same statement, Safapour commented on the Jon Jones drug testing controversy that caused the entire UFC 229 card to be moved from Las Vegas to Los Angeles at the last minute.

“We hold the same position about Jones as it relates to the doping controversy,” he wrote. “Whatever he is doing, it smells terrible.

“His results were, ‘pulsing,’ in August and September, which means he did not test negative,” he continued. “Does that mean he tested positive on those occasions? Those same tests results were not given to the California commission at Jon’s last hearing, nor was it given to California when he failed his test from December.

“Why are other fighters not having these problems? We are just supposed to believe that Jon is an innocent victim that has the worst luck in MMA history.”

What do you think the future holds for the ever-dangerous Alexander Gustafsson after his second setback to Jon Jones?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 1/12/2019.