• UFC 159

Jones: Gustafsson's a threat to my belt

ESPN staff
April 25, 2013
Jones wants to fight Alex Gustafsson


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Jon Jones has singled out in no uncertain terms who he wants to face after Chael Sonnen, targeting Sweden's super talent Alexander Gustafsson.

Jones headlines UFC 159 this weekend against Sonnen in New Jersey, hoping to equal Tito Ortiz's record of five successful light-heavyweight title defences.

Should he be successful, Lyoto Machida is arguably front of the queue to provide Jones' next rival, but the champion isn't keen because he has already defeated the Brazilian once. Far more interesting is Gustafsson, who recently pulled out of a bout with Gegard Mousasi due to injury.

When asked who he sees as a threat to his belt on Thursday, Jones answered: "Gustafsson. I don't call people out, he called me out first by making that Harlem Shake video, saying 'Jones is next'. So I thought, 'Alright, if you want me to be next, I'll desire that fight'.

"He's a guy who has respect, he's a new guy who's ambitious. He's a threat because he's going to want it bad and he has the young body to back up his training. That's dangerous.

"He's just as tall as me. A lot of people say, 'Jon, fight someone your own size', he's 6ft 5 and I'm 6ft 4 - I want to shut up my critics."

Jones also commented on Phil Davis, who fights Vinny Magalhaes this weekend, claiming it was "inevitable" the pair would meet. But he was luke warm on Mousasi, saying: "Mousasi's not really on my radar. Nobody's really talking about him in the UFC."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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