On that September 2013 evening, Jones struggled early, then rallied late for a thrilling five-round decision victory over “The Mauler” in what remains the most difficult test of his UFC tenure. Gustafsson recently appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast and admitted that beating Jones would be more significant than winning the UFC light heavyweight title.
“It was really tough because everybody was saying, ‘You’re winning this fight.’ It was just right there at the goal line. I didn’t really pass that goal line at all,” Gustafsson said. “It was tough. It’s a really good experience for me. The fight is a highlight in my career, in my life, for sure.
“Winning over Jon Jones is bigger than taking the belt. The guy is such a beast…Look at what he did to [Daniel Cormier].”
Jones is currently awaiting a ruling from USADA after being fined $205,000 and having his license revoked by the California State Athletic commission for a failed drug test at UFC 214 last July. As a second-time offender, he could be facing a four-year suspension. No matter what the future holds, however, Jones doesn’t believe it includes a future loss to Gustafsson.
“Beat me in three? Your hands were the only thing you had over me in our first fight. That gap is closing fast. Our first fight will be the greatest thing you’ve ever done inside of that Octagon,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “You will never beat me, that’s my promise to you.”
@AlexTheMauler Beat me in three? Your hands were the only thing you had over me in our first fight. That gap is closing fast. Our first fight will be the greatest thing you’ve ever done inside of that octagon. You will never beat me, that’s my promise to you.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) April 20, 2018
Jones then posted a video of himself working on his hands in his garage:
Broke a nice sweat in my garage tonight pic.twitter.com/kyN0KnL4dn
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) April 20, 2018