Jon Jones knows that there is no room for complacency in his upcoming showdown with Glover Teixeira, but Alexander Gustafsson believes that 'Bones' will still end up keeping his title.
Jones, who will defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title at UFC 172 on Saturday, said that he is expecting an amazing challenge from Teixeira.
"Glover is a phenomenal opponent with power in both hands, is a great wrestler and hasn't lost in five years," Jones said via Fightline. "I am totally up for this amazing challenge."
Gustafsson, who once faced Jones inside the Octagon, said that while Teixeira is a dangerous fighter, he still can't see 'Bones' losing his UFC title on Saturday.
Gustafsson said that Teixeira is a good all-around fighter and is very capable of inflicting serious damage with his power, but the Swede mixed martial artist pointed out that Teixeira's style is tailor made for the best UFC pound-for-pound fighter.
"I think [Glover's] a dangerous fighter," Gustafsson said in an interview with MMA Mania. "He's good all around and he hits very hard, a very hard striker. But he also just kind of wades forward and doesn't use any movement, and I think that's the style Jon is just going to pick apart once he figures out his range. So I expect Jones to win the fight."
The 27-year-old is itching to get a rematch with Jones, and he could get his wish soon if the 26-year-old American emerges victorious in his seventh title defense.
Gustafsson pushed Jones to the limits during their UFC 165 showdown before the Rochester, New York native kept his light heavyweight crown with a unanimous decision.
Up to this point, Gustafsson still believes that he won against Jones, and he vowed not to put his faith on the judges' hands if they collide again in the near future.
"I still think I won the fight," Gustafsson said. "I'll grant you that Jon really got me in the fourth round and that slowed me down in the final two rounds. But this time I'm not going to let the judges decide. This time, I'll have a better idea of what it takes. This time I plan on knocking him out and I don't care if he knows that."
