UFC Quick Quote: Alexander Gustafsson 'shocked' but 'happy' he finished Vladimir Matyushenko

by Adam Guillen Jr. on Jan 3, 2012 9:04 AM EST in UFC Results

Alexander Gustafsson (right) lands a right hand on Vladimir Matyushenko during UFC 141 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 30, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo via UFC.com.

"He just went right to my jab and he went down and I was shocked. I saw him lying there so I continued the ground-and-pound and the judge came, so I got the TKO. I can't' even believe it happened, I trained so hard and he is such a tough guy to finish, I'm too happy. I wanted to strike and wanted to use my reach. I was prepared for two or three rounds of hard battle but it's my day today."

---Fast rising Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson tells UFC.com that he was "shocked" that he was able to finish a very tough Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem this past weekend (Dec., 2011) in Las Vegas, Nevada. "The Mauler" was able to clean "The Janitor's" clock in the very first round of their 205-pound bout. The win marked the fourth straight for the young Gustafsson and made it five for six overall, all finishes, in his time in UFC; with his only loss coming to wrestling powerhouse Phil Davis at UFC 112: "Invincible" back in 2010. With nothing but an upside for the young contender, it will be interesting to see just who UFC matchmaker Joe Silva matches him up with next. In a stacked light heavyweight division, there should be no problem for Gustafsson to find an opponent quick should he want a fast turnaround. What say you, who do you think is a good match-up to test the skills of the young and talented Swedish mixed martial artist (MMA)?

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Gustafsson is a beautiful Nord warrior

I’d like to see how he develops.

"How much can you know about yourself, if you've never been in a fight?"

by RRRenan on Jan 3, 2012 9:26 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Probably close to what hendricks thinks about his fight. Good for gustafsson I hope they don’t push him up way to quick and don’t let him develop because he is good but not great

by zesotheclown on Jan 3, 2012 9:30 AM EST via mobile reply actions

exactly what im thinking im still not sold on him like cool he trains with phil davis now…..after he beat him right? jon jones right now is like apocalypse and yes i mean this one:

like water
and this was the way i felt watching the reem kill brock
"He got knee'd right in the diverticulitis
by Balrog on Dec 30, 2011 9:20 PM PST"

by Mac Marley on Jan 3, 2012 10:16 AM EST up reply actions

Exactly. He needs to fight one more midtier guy, maybe Thiago Silva? he also needs to fight a wrestler to prove he evolved (Ryan Bader?).

by Vetr on Jan 3, 2012 10:21 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Lil Nog makes the most sense. I think T needs a warm up fight.

Winner of Bader-Page would be OK. A Rich franklin or forrest griffin retirement party sounds cool too. If all else fails, sacrifice Ortiz.

"Who called the JDS vs Overeem Campionship Showdown almost 3 years ago, you know the name. Big Z. My own personal Mania Poltergeist and cooler than the other side of the pillow. ALL HAIL ZINO IN 2012"

by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Jan 3, 2012 10:52 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Thiago Silva VS Igor Pokrajac sounded good when someone said it.

Gus should fight Lil Nog whom he trained with, It sucks that at the deep end of the LHW division most of those guys have trained with one another

NOVA UNIAO
Tomas Taverin Def. Jander Yenn via TKO(Punches) at 0:54 of RD 1!

by CharactersAnalysis on Jan 3, 2012 10:56 AM EST up reply actions

Ryan Bader would be a good one

I don’t know about Thiago Silva. He needs a warmup fight.

by unambig on Jan 3, 2012 2:13 PM EST up reply actions

gus is fighting april 14th in sweden.

bonnar or lil nog, can’t imagine any other opponent. the difference between all these dudes is their celebrity status, if that wasn’t an issue gustafsson could fight jon jones next.

Tito Ortiz = God !

by RoBerto. on Jan 3, 2012 11:37 AM EST reply actions

While Shad fights Davis, that doesn't sound like a bad idea.

I sometimes wonder what fighters can do other than fight or build fake heat to get their exposure, maybe start an web show or reality tv.

NOVA UNIAO
Tomas Taverin Def. Jander Yenn via TKO(Punches) at 0:54 of RD 1!

by CharactersAnalysis on Jan 3, 2012 11:55 AM EST up reply actions

Plus one brutha great post

Gotta say i think the mauler is a work in progress as far as JBJ level goes but i see exactly where you’re coming from. I think he’s a stayer though. He’ll take his career slow European Style if you know what i mean. I’m really interetsted in this kid and have been laughed at for saying he’s a future LHW champ contender. Looking fwd to seeing how he goes.

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."
- James M. Barrie

by Rilly on Jan 4, 2012 6:18 AM EST up reply actions