Alexander Gustafsson has parted ways with Alliance MMA in order to return to full-time training in his home country of Sweden.
‘The Mauler’ (15-2) has recently left Alliance in San Diego, despite the trainers and fighters at the gym being credited for vastly improving the Swede’s game, which resulted in him giving 205lb champion Jon Jones the toughest fight of his career.
One of the drastic improvements noticed in Gustafsson during his time at Alliance was his wrestling. Training in the US alongside standout wrestler Phil Davis, who defeated him in 2010, gave him the ability to complete the first ever takedown against Jones in his career.
Those high-level training partners at Alliance may be one of the reasons Gustafsson opted to return home after his five-round battle with Jones. There’s the chance that he will have to meet top 205lb fighter Davis again in the near future, as he’s quickly climbing the ranks and making a case for his own title shot.
A rematch with Davis may be inevitable and, rather than continuing to split camps and remain in close quarters with ‘Mr.W Wonderful, the decision was made for the Swede to return home as a mainstream name and an icon in his native country.
Lewis Smith
