The UFC have now officially announced that Alexander Gustafsson will face Anthony Johnson in a fight to determine the no. 1 light-heavyweight contender at ‘UFC on Fox’ in Stockholm, Sweden on January 24.
Gustafsson (pictured) will be fighting back on home soil as he takes on the American at Stockholm’s Tele2 Arena with a maximum capacity of up to 45,000. The winner will go on to face the victor of reigning champion Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier which takes place on Jan. 3 in Las Vegas.
In September of 2013, Gustafsson (16-2) lost a razor thin decision to Jones in what is considered to be the greatest fight ever contested in the UFC’s 205lb division. Since then, ‘The Mauler’ dispatched of top British light-heavyweight Jimi Manuwa via TKO in the second round at the O2 Arena in London on March 8.
“This is going to be an epic event,” Gustafsson said. “I want more than 30,000 fans to come and witness me win on January 24. Then I’m going to go and get the title! My journey back to the top starts now.”
In contrast, Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson (18-4) is on a run of eight consecutive wins. The 30-year-old was released from the UFC in 2012, but tapped into his full potential with victories over the likes of former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski when competing in the World Series of Fighting. Johnson was called back to the UFC where his prime form has continued with a decision victory over Phil Davis in April, and a fearsome knockout victory over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC on Fox in July. ‘Rumble’ finished the hardy Brazilian in just 44-seconds.
“This fight might be on his home turf, but I’m ready to go over to Sweden and prove that I’m the next in the line for the UFC light heavyweight title,” Johnson said. “I’m not intimidated by fighting in front of Alex’s hometown fans. I’m going to go in there and look for the knockout like I do in all of my fights. I can’t wait for this!”
