Alexander Gustafsson: After I beat Jimi Manuwa in London, I'm taking Jon Jones' belt

Alexander Gustafsson came ever-so-close to dethroning Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Jon Jones last year at UFC 165.

But the cageside judges decided that "Bones" had done enough to retain his strap after he and "The Mauler" went at it for 25 exciting minutes (video) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Much to the chagrin of some fight fans.

Nevertheless, the towering Swede may have a rematch against Jones to look forward to should he defeat Jimi Manuwa in the main event of this weekend's (March 8, 2014) UFC Fight Night 37 event in London, England, which airs only on UFC Fight Pass.

But should he get the chance to face Jones once again, Gus plans on taking the title away from the dominant champion, not just humble him.

His words:

"Well, he said himself he's a lot more humble now, so, I don't know. Maybe (I did humble him), I don't know. I think I have (changed his cocky mentality) and next time we fight, I'm just not going to change him, but take his belt, too. He's fighting Teixeira, I'm fighting Jimi, so lets see what happens. After I beat Jimi, I want to fight him again. Let's see what happens, the future will tell. I think he beats Teixeira. Texieira is tough guy, tough fighter, but I think Jones is too technical and has much more weapons to use than Teixeira, He will win a decision."

Gustafsson has immediate business at hand against the undefeated (14-0) Manuwa, a fighter Gus says would be a mistake to look past. Jones, meanwhile, has a tough fight to look forward to himself, against the aforementioned Teixeira at UFC 172.

A main event title fight which goes down on April 26, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Should Jones and Alexander prove victorious in their respective bouts, then part two of their instant classic may go down later this year. And this time, "The Mauler" plans on leaving no doubt as to who is the best 205-pound fighter in the world.

That is, of course, if Teixeira doesn't do it first.