ALEXANDER GUSTAFSSON (RECORD: 18-4, +235 UNDERDOG, POWER RANKING: A)
Gustafsson’s battle game begins with his length. In 6-foot-5 along with a 79-inch reach, he’s second only to Jones in the division in regards to length of light heavyweight’s top fighters. Gustafsson has some of the best footwork from the branch. He utilizes that in combination with a top IQ boxing art. He’s got excellent hand speed and is the best boxer in the division together with his ability to throw and join combinations. He doesn’t have the power that most of the best light heavyweights have, but he makes up for it with his high work rate, landing 4.18 considerable strikes per minute. His ground game is surely not his power, but he has excellent takedown defense at 85 percent. At a joint 50 minutes at the cage with Cormier and Jones, he was just taken down two.
JON JONES (RECORD: 22-1-1, -255 FAVORITE, FIGHTER GRADE: A++)
The time that is long Jackson’s MMA merchandise is the very best fighter in the world for many reasons. To start, physically he’s very talented because his 84.5″ inch achieve is right near the top of the game. Jones uses his span very well. He lands a whopping 2.29 significant strikes a second more than that he absorbs. That puts him right near the top of this UFC in that respect. He combines that with 95% takedown defense. He mixes that defensive prowess having a creative striking game using a lot of unorthodox kicks.
On the ground, Jones has as brutal of earth and pound as anyone in MMA. He delivers vicious elbows in top control and is capable of completing in any struggle from that position. If there’s any weakness in Jones’ game, it’s lack of big-time power.
THE MATCHUP
In a rematch of one the greatest fights in the history of this UFC, Jones will once more look to develop into the light heavyweight champion of the world because he takes on one of the main competitions in Gustafsson. Both fighters are returning from extensive layoffs, so off the bat there are several question marks on ring rust and if there has been any regression in abilities. What’s more, the fight being transferred from Las Vegas to Los Angeles on less than two weeks’ notice compelling changes fight week prep generates even more innuendo round the bout. With both fighters influenced, one must handicap that facet a wash and look at it strictly from a competitive perspective.
Though the sample size is modest, Jones has had maybe his biggest struggles with long, rangy fighters. The toughest battle of his career was his first fight with Gustafsson. The Swede landed 110 significant strikes in that bout compared to the 134 landed by the American. Bearing that in mind, Gustafsson threw 71 more important strikes throughout the struggle. Gus was certainly more busy, but Jones landed the larger, more meaningful punches especially in the subsequent rounds. As Jones has added more muscle because this bout, expect electricity to be even more of a factor in this bout. Gustafsson will have confidence from this very first fight, however, the X Factor is Jones’ increased power permitting him to land more devastating blows.
This is supposed to be another classic, but Gustafsson’s lack of one punch knockout power will be his undoing since Jones is going to be able to take control in stretching knocking Gustafsson backwards. In the long run, anticipate this bout to go to the scorecards with Jones once more continuing his tremendous run at the peak of the light heavyweight division.
Prediction: Jones by decision +225 is your best drama on this particular fight.
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