Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson II Set for UFC 177 in Las Vegas

[Swinny]

Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson II set for UFC 177 in Las Vegas

The rematch the MMA world has been talking about since this past September now has a date and a home – likely, anyway.

Jon Jones will rematch Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 177 on Aug. 30 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. UFC officials made the announcement on Saturday night after an initial report from ESPN.com.

But there’s a catch right now. Only Gustafsson has agreed to the fight. But UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta told ESPN the fight is planned for UFC 177 once Jones signs on.

Gustafsson (16-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) gave Jones (20-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) his toughest test yet in MMA this past September at UFC 165, dropping a narrow unanimous decision that had both fighters in the hospital after the bout.

The UFC planned on a rematch – pending wins for each fighter in their next bouts. In March, Gustafsson took care of his half of the bargain, knocking out Jimi Manuwa in London. And a month ago in Baltimore, Jones dominated Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 to set up the rematch.

There was talk that perhaps the UFC would book the title fight for its planned return to Sweden, Gustafsson’s home country, on Oct. 4. But instead, it will put the fight on in its home base of Las Vegas.

Jones has established himself as arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world on the strength of 11 straight wins – eight of them in title fights, with seven successive defenses. Gustafsson had six straight wins before his close loss to Jones, but got right back on track against Manuwa.

MMAJunkie

 

[The Great Cochrane]

YES!!!!

I'm seriously going with Gustafsson on this one. He did quite the number on Jones.

 

[Swinny]

I think Jones takes this one, and does it more decisively this time, but after that last fight really almost anything can happen in this one and I'm excited for it.

 

[The Great Cochrane]

I strongly disagree, I say Gustafsson finishes him this time. And in the 1st round.

 

[Swinny]

So a Shogun-Machida II situation?

I don't know, I don't see Gus finishing Jones. He might be able to pull off a decision, like he almost did last time, but I like Jones' chances of finishing Gus better than the other way around.

 

[The Great Cochrane]

So a Shogun-Machida II situation?

I don't know, I don't see Gus finishing Jones. He might be able to pull off a decision, like he almost did last time, but I like Jones' chances of finishing Gus better than the other way around.

If that is the case, either it'll be a 5th round finish or he'll go to decision. Jones has always been a slow starter.

But Gussy really pushed the action in the last fight, he put Jones on the defensive more than anybody ever has and if anything he certainly proved that he has the style to cause problems. Certainly it won't be easy, he'll have to stick and move the way that bantamweights do and that's a lot easier said than done with somebody like Gussy's frame. His conditioning will also have to be better because if anything I believe that has also been a downfall of his. But if Gussy comes out and explodes on Jones than I do see a first round finish going in his favor.

 

[Postman Dave]

So if I'm reading correctly, Jones hasn't actually agreed to this yet?

 

[The Great Cochrane]

So if I'm reading correctly, Jones hasn't actually agreed to this yet?

Oh-ho-ho!

[MENTION=154]Swinny[/MENTION], you fucked up! Should have been title 'Gustafsson agrees to fight at UFC 177'. C'mon, we all know Jones is scared of him anyways

 

[Swinny]

Oh-ho-ho!

[MENTION=154]Swinny[/MENTION], you fucked up! Should have been title 'Gustafsson agrees to fight at UFC 177'. C'mon, we all know Jones is scared of him anyways

Eh, blame MMAJunkie for the title, not me.

 

[The Great Cochrane]

Nah, I'll just blame you. It's easier.