The crowd is erupting right now. Smith connects with a hard overhand left but Gustafsson responds with a skulling rattling uppercut. Alexander Gustafsson via submission rear-naked choke. Smith follows up with a left high kick but is met with a counter left jab. Decision unanimous 48—47, 48—47, 49—46 5 5:00 Bantamweight ic def. Gustafsson responds with a left hook to the body.
After the fight, before being sent to hospital, Jones said Gustafsson had given him the hardest fight of his career. Co-featured on the card was a rescheduled Interim bout between the current champion , and former and top contender. The Mauler is a frank and at times painful account of a young man rapidly heading off the rails, and of his fight to reach the top of his game in an effort to change his life forever. Gustafsson finding his rhythm now as he connects with a left hook to the body followed by pair of lightning quick jabs to the nose. Gustafsson is still circling away as Smith peppers him with strikes from the outside. Gustafsson ultimately lost a somewhat close unanimous and controversial decision. Additionally, Jones was looking to surpass the number of Light Heavyweight title defenses originally set by.
Alexander Gustafsson grew up in Arboga, a small town in Sweden. Smith momentarily looked for the takedown but Gustafsson defends and connects with a short uppercut. Decision unanimous 30—27, 30—27, 30—26 3 5:00 Lightweight def. However, Yamamoto was removed from the bout and was replaced by. Gustafsson ducks in but eats a pair of stiff punches.
The towering swede much more aggressive in Round 2 as he storms with a flurry of strikes. Gustafsson circling to the outside as Smith stalks him towards the cage. Gustafsson pushing forward now with a flurry of jabs as blood trickles from his left leg. He was set to compete in the national championship even the following year, 2010, for which he was a big favorite to win. Smith wraps his legs around Gustafsson but is visibly sliding off as his opponent makes his way back to this feet. Gustafsson slaps in a series of leg kicks followed by a front kick to the body.
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With a touch of the gloves both men lock horns in the center of the canvas. Gustafsson misses badly with a looping uppercut as the crowd rises to their feet. Technical Submission D'Arce choke 1 4:06 Middleweight def. Despite being looked at as a big underdog coming in to this fight, Gustafsson challenged Jones unlike any previous contender, taking the champion down for the first time in his career. Gustafsson threatens a handful of kicks, much to the delight of Smith. Smith finishes the attack with a right high kick but Gustafsson just circles away.
Smith connects with a lead leg kick before missing with another haymaker. Smith finds a home for a murderous left hook to the midsection. Decision split 29—28, 28—29, 29—28 3 5:00 Bantamweight def. Smith smiles and winks as both men continue to batter each other with leg kicks and punches. In 2008-2009 he made a quick return to boxing, winning some amateur tournaments in Sweden and defeating the Swedish heavyweight boxing champion in an amateur fight. As told to Leif Eriksson and Martin Svensson. Smith looked for the haymaker but Gustafsson ducks under without taking any damage.
Gustafsson earned his title fight by winning six straight fights in the light heavyweight division. Decision unanimous 30—27, 30—27, 30—27 3 5:00 Preliminary card Fox Sports 1 Lightweight def. Decision split 29—28, 28—29, 29—28 3 5:00 Heavyweight def. The pairing was first planned as the headliner at , but was removed from that event after Barão injured his foot. Smith swings but misses with an overhand left as Gustafsson ducks under and sprints away.
Gustafsson working with his back to the cage as he looks for an opening. Decision unanimous 29—28, 29—28, 29—28 3 5:00 Welterweight def. Smith stands his ground and shoves his opponent back with a barrage of hard punches. Decision split 28—29, 29—28, 29—28 3 5:00 Bantamweight def. Smith is literally stalking Gustafsson across the canvas as he looks for the finishing blow. Smith adjusts position and forces Gustafsson down to his belly.
With his oxygen supply rapidly closing, Gustafsson is forced to submit. Gustafsson looked for the trip, but Smith reverses, drags his opponent to the canvas and immediately looks for back control. Since then Gustafsson has faced merited fighters such as Manuwa, Johnson and Cormier, thus earning his rightful spot in the top ranks of the light heavyweight division. Gustafsson is visibly shaking his bloody leg as he makes his way back to the corner. Smiling, Smith continues to eat leg kicks. .
Smith tags Gustafsson with a left hook. Smith silences them with a hard right, sending Gustafsson sprinting away. He won the national championship youth-junior level in 2003, at the age of 16. With his opponent reeling, Gustafsson rushes in and drags Smith to the canvas. Round 1 Marc Goddard is the third man in the Octagon for this one.