Exclusive interview with Alexander Gustafsson: Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be an incredible MMA fighter

Former UFC light heavyweight veteran Alexander Gustafsson has expressed a high interest in returning to the octagon despite the new MMA organisation GFL failing before it started.

He also predicted that training partner and friend Khamzat Chimaev will become UFC Middleweight champion, whilst reflecting on his career highlights performance against Jon Jones and providing a prediction for the highly anticipated and potential ‘Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall’ fight.

Speaking to Comeon Sports, Gustafsson said: 

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• I don’t know the status of the GFL – I’m open to fighting in other promotions
• I’m interesting in a BKFC fight – there have been a few discussions
• Conor McGregor won’t return to fight in the UFC – he doesn’t have the right ambition
• I would love to fight in Jon Jones’ Dirty Boxing Championship – and I wouldn’t turn down a trilogy
• Jon Jones is the best P4P in the UFC – without a doubt
• Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall is too hard to predict
• Jon Jones knows that Tom Aspinall is very dangerous
• I’m proud of almost beating Jon Jones – but no longer think about it
• Tom Aspinall has more weapons than Ciryl Gane
• Khamzat Chimaev will beat Dricus Du Plessis to become middleweight champion
• Alex Pereira will win back the light-heavyweight belt in his next fight
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be an amazing MMA fighter – I’d love to see him fight Cristiano Ronaldo
• I’d knock Jake Paul out – he just has to give me a call

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Exclusive interview with Alexander Gustafsson: Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be an incredible MMA fighter, I’d knock Jake Paul out in the boxing ring, I wouldn’t turn down a trilogy fight with Jon Jones, Khamzat Chimaev will beat Dricus Du Plessis for UFC gold

I don’t know the status of the GFL – I’m open to fighting in other promotions

I’ve been training, now I’m just waiting to see what they say and take it from there. I don’t know the status of the GFL, I’m just hoping they get it sorted.

Am I confident? I don’t actually know. Let’s see. I’ll be training. I’m in camp so I’ve been training but let’s see what’s next for GFL. 

Having said that, if anyone else gives me an opportunity to fight then I’m open to discussing it, let’s see what happens.

With the GFL, I don’t know what the concept is really now, but they pay very well and I think it’s a great idea, if it can go ahead.

I’m interesting in a BKFC fight – there have been a few discussions

I’m absolutely interested in fighting in BKFC. I’m in shape, let’s see what offer I get. I would talk it through with the team and see what the best move is.

I haven’t personally spoken to BKFC or Conor McGregor, but there have been discussions within my team about it, I don’t have much to say on it. 

I’m just focusing on my training and whatever happens, happens. I’ll be ready for whatever we decide to do.

Will I fight this year? Absolutely. I hope that if I get the right offer, I’ll be back 100%.

Conor McGregor won’t return to fight in the UFC – he doesn’t have the right ambition

Will Conor McGregor return to the UFC? He is always entertaining, but I don’t think it will happen. He doesn’t need to fight anymore. I don’t think he has the right ambition to step in there again.

But let’s see, he is always entertaining both inside and outside of the Octagon. Does he have a 10% chance of fighting in the UFC again? Maybe.

I would love to fight in Jon Jones’ Dirty Boxing Championship – and I wouldn’t turn down a trilogy

Would I fight in Jon Jones’ Dirty Boxing Championship? Absolutely let’s see if he reaches out. I’ve also discussed it with my team and it’s a really interesting organization.

A trilogy fight between us in his promotion, that’s a good question, I wouldn’t say no to that.

We spoke to each other before and after our fights and he’s certainly an interesting person, overall he has come across as a good guy.

Jon Jones is the best P4P in the UFC – without a doubt

Jon Jones is still the P4P best in the UFC, he is the best guy out there. His debut was before mine and he is still kicking everybody’s asses. He’s the pound for pound best, without doubt.

Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall is too hard to predict

It would be a great fight to watch and it’s hard to predict a fight like that. You have a guy with all the tools and a fighting IQ like no one else, then you have a young guy who is so strong and a very good all round fighter. 

It’s very hard to predict who would win and who would lose, but it’s a fight I wouldn’t miss.

Jon Jones knows that Tom Aspinall is very dangerous

Is Jon Jones scared of Tom Aspinall? I don’t think he’s scared of anybody, but he knows for sure that Tom Aspinalli is very dangerous. He’s a young guy with a lot of tools. 

He’s a strong guy and has a lot of drive right now. He has a lot of motivation.

Could Jon Jones retire after becoming the longest reigning heavyweight champion? It wouldn’t surprise me.

I’m proud of almost beating Jon Jones – but no longer think about it

Looking back, I’m very proud of my performance in that fight. I don’t think about it much anymore because it was so long ago, but it took my career to another level.

I’m very proud of it looking back.

Tom Aspinall has more weapons than Ciryl Gane

Tom Aspinall has more weapons than Ciryl Gane. I think they are both very dangerous in the feet when striking, but Tom has more weapons on the ground.

Khamzat Chimaev will beat Dricus Du Plessis to become middleweight champion

Khamzat Chimaev vs Dricus Du Plessis is a very interesting fight, but I see Khamzat as the winner.

I see Khamzat because of his wrestling and his power, but Dricus is a very dangerous champion. He has beaten a lot of good guys.

But Khamzat is ready for this mission and he’ll end up as champion. I have always known how talented he is so nothing has surprised me, he outworks everybody and that’s what has taken him to the top.

Alex Pereira will win back the light-heavyweight belt in his next fight

I didn’t think Alex Pereira would lose his belt, it was surprising to see Magomed Ankalaev just neutralise him. 

But I like Pereira. I think he’s a very entertaining fighter and I think he gets the job done in the rematch.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be an amazing MMA fighter – I’d love to see him fight Cristiano Ronaldo

Patrice Evra has gone into MMA and I think Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be an amazing fighter, I already know he’s an incredible fighter, he has good kicks, long range arms and legs, I think he would be great if he gave MMA a chance.

Could he be a champion? Who knows. 

Imagine Zlatan vs Cristiano Ronaldo. It would be a great fight to watch and these days it seems like anything is possible, you never know who is going to fight who.

I’d knock Jake Paul out – he just has to give me a call

I’d fight Jake Paul tomorrow, he’d just have to give me a call. I’d knock him out using my boxing.

His rise has shown the evolution of the game. I’m more of an old timer and believe in fighting for the belts and not for money, having the ambition to be the best in the world.

Now it’s about prize fighters and YouTubers, but Jake Paul is a good fighter, he can box and he can hit hard, it’s a new era and it’s about adapting.