Biggest ever European event
Wednesday 26 November 2014 16:07, UK
The UFC will stage its largest ever European event – and the first in a stadium – by pitting top-ranked duo Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson against each other in Sweden.
The 30,000 capacity Tele2 Arena in Stockholm will stage the event as part of the UFC’s Europe, Middle East & Asia project – hometown light-heavyweight Gustafsson is the star attraction as well as Europe’s likeliest world champion in the modern era.
Sky Sports spoke to Gustafsson, his opponent Johnson and co main-eventer Gegard Mousasi ahead of the January 24 event.
After running all-time great Jon Jones close in arguably the best MMA fight ever, Gustafsson will get a second crack at the world title with success in an event largely built around his potential.
I still think about the Jon Jones fight because I think that I won, but a lot of good things have happened to me since then. I don’t have good memories from that fight because I lost. I have to let it go.
Gustafsson said: Fighting in Sweden is a feeling I can’t describe, you’d have to be there to appreciate it. I have a whole country behind me when I fight, it’s similar to Conor McGregor and Ireland. There will be thousands of people cheering me on.
MMA has exploded in Sweden. It’s not just because of my success – that has helped but Sweden also has a history of martial arts, particularly boxing. Our people love fighting sports.
The last UFC event in Sweden was a bad night for our fighters because they lost but it doesn’t make any difference to my fight. The stadium will still be packed, it won’t affect the fans. I enjoy the pressure of fighting in Sweden. The more pressure, the better I perform. That’s why against Jones for the championship I had one of my best performances.
I still think about the Jon Jones fight because I think that I won, but a lot of good things have happened to me since then. I don’t have good memories from that fight because I lost. I have to let it go.
I’m not worried that I haven’t fought Jones again. I was hurt, he was hurt, and these things happen. You have to listen to your body.
I want to be the world champion for myself, firstly. But it would mean a lot to be a champion from Europe because the UFC hasn’t had one for a long time.
Finally fulfilling his potential after years of underachievement surrounding weight issues and personal problems, the new version of Rumble is going to Sweden to spoil the party.
I’m glad I never gave up on myself. I’m glad that my team, my coaches, my family and my friends and the fans never gave up on me. Look where I am now. There was a time when I almost gave up.
Johnson said: I’m glad I never gave up on myself. I’m glad that my team, my coaches, my family and my friends and the fans never gave up on me. Look where I am now. There was a time when I almost gave up. Like they say, you bend but you don’t break and I didn’t break. I’m human and sometimes we do break but my grandfather raised me to never give up. The things he taught me means I never gave up.
The biggest crowd I’ve fought for was in Brazil against Vitor Belfort. But this is definitely the biggest now. Everything got to me in Brazil, not just the crowd. I got to myself. That was two years ago and I’m a totally different fighter now.
The crowds don’t affect me at all. I’m fighting one guy, not a few thousand Swedish guys! Some guys get broken by the crowd, but for me if the crowd are there for me that’s fine but if they’re not then I’ll still do my job. I’ll just focus on the guy across the Octagon from me. This is how I think now. Two or three years ago when I fought in Brazil, we might have had a problem. But now I’m not worried about the crowd.
It makes it exciting for me to fight on an opponent’s home turf. It will be crazy that the fans are all cheering for him. I want to see if the fans can be so loud and make enough noise that you feel it in your feet, can they make the ground shake? I want to feel that type of energy from the crowd.
Will the Dutch middleweight enjoy Scandanavian support when he meets the iconic yet ageing Dan Henderson in co main-event?
Mousasi said: Holland and Sweden have a good relationship so I’m not expecting difficulties. The crowd will be 50-50 because Henderson is a legend. I’ve always done well fighting in Europe, it’s easier for me – Henderson will have a long flight and maybe jet lag. I will prepare for my fight by training with Gustafsson in Sweden.
Henderson is a big name in our sport but the best thing about fighting him is that I don’t have to worry about strategies. I can just fight. I don’t have to worry or submissions or takedowns with him, I can go all-out. I can just lay it all out there, it’s only three rounds, so I give my all. I’ve seen all of his fights, I watched him when I was coming up. I’m proud that I’m now fighting him but it doesn’t feel strange because I’ve always wanted to.
