Embrace the asterisk!
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight No. 1 contender, Alexander Gustafsson, is once again fighting for the title, even if it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to some of the other guys doing work at 205 pounds. But that's okay.
Everything has changed since Jon Jones was suspended and forced to turn in his strap.
Well, everything except the fact that "Bones" is still the best light heavyweight fighter on the planet, according to the towering Swede, who also described the difference (via Fightland) between being the "official" champion and the "real" champion.
His words.
"Whoever is holding the belt is the official champion, but everybody knows that the best guy out there is Jon Jones. He's the pound-for-pound best guy in the world and you can probably only consider yourself a real world champion if you beat him. The fight that everybody wants to see is a rematch with me and Jones. Let's see what happens but I'm ready for that, it's the fight that has been motivating me. I think it's a fight that is going to happen one day, for sure."
Daniel Cormier, who lost to Jones earlier this year, does not agree.
Not that anyone can do anything about it, as Jones has bigger things to worry about over the next few months (like this). In the interim, Gustafsson will try finish what he started in September 2013 when he and "DC" sling leather later this year (more on that here).
Anyone think "The Mauler" will change his tune if he gets his hands on the gold?