Alexander Gustafsson's Insight: Chandler's Next Steps, Khamzat's Health Struggles, and the Future of UFC Stars

Alexander Gustafsson exclusive: Michael Chandler needs to move on with his career, I don’t think we will see the same Conor McGregor again, ‘Very ill’ Khamzat still beats Adesanya, Edwards and Du Plessis, Mike Perry is a ‘savage’ and he could upset Jake Paul on July 20th

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Speaking to Crypto Sports Betting, Swedish UFC lightweight contender Alexander ‘’The Mauler’’ Gustafsson – who is most known for his battles with current heavyweight champion Jon Jones and Hall of Famer Daniel Cormer – eyes a return to the Octagon. 

He’s also urged Michael Chandler to move on after the heartbreaking news of Conor McGregor’s injury.

Despite constant illness, Gustafsson also believes that teammate Khamzat Chimaev easily beats the likes of Israel Adesanya, Leon Edwards and Dricus Du Plessis.

Q. Why does Khamzat Chimaev’s health continuously fail him?

AG: ‘’The guy gets ill. There is something with his body that reacts to hard training because he is the hardest worker in the room, he's always been the hardest worker. They have to run some tests and see what the background is, whether there is something in his body that's reacting to the hard training because he trains very hard. I hope they find what it is and take care of the problem and he gets better. 

“He very easily catches a cold for example – a running nose, coughing, symptoms that are not a big deal at all, we all get that. But I've seen when he increases his training a lot, I know his body reacts differently to the training. I don't know where it comes from. It's crazy how he reacts to the training these days. 

“I can't even imagine how frustrated he is, I know he doesn't feel good at all. He's ill, he's very ill. Not only that, it's the mental part. You have a big fight ahead of you, it's the big card in Saudi Arabia and everything is on you, then this s*** happens.

“He's going through some hard times right now but I know the guy, he's going to come back stronger and take care of the issue. When Khamzat is Khamzat, he beats all of them - Leon [Edwards], Israel [Adesanya] and Dricus [Du Plessis].

“He trains so hard, it's inhuman the way he trains. But his illness is not because he overtrains, this is a whole different level of illness.’’

Q. How do you see Jake Paul vs Mike Perry playing out?

AG: ‘’Mike Perry is savage, he's a great pressure fighter and he's right up in your face. He doesn't allow you to breathe, that's the kind of fighter he is. He will mess you up, he is a tough dude and he's really found his martial art as a competitor in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship - he’s smashing everybody. 

“Jake Paul has proven he can box, he's been doing good, he's a hard puncher, but it's a fight that could go either way but probably won't go the distance. ‘’

Q. You have previously fought in the early hours of the morning for UFC Sweden. What is your advice for Tom Aspinall and Leon Edwards before they fight on the UFC Manchester card at 4AM on July 27th?

AG: ‘’Everyone reacts differently to fighting in the early hours of the morning. I did the last part of my camp during the early hours at the same time I would be fighting. 

“I'd have a session early in the evening and then a session in the early morning. Your body and mind gets used to working in those hours. It was a bit of a struggle to begin with but you get used to it. 

“When I stepped in, I didn't think about it at all. It was a crazy atmosphere. It was fully packed, 4 o'clock in the morning and it was packed, it was one of the biggest stages in Sweden. It was an unreal experience because no one believed we'd fill the arena with fans at that time of the morning. 

“Everyone was going crazy, it was an unreal and amazing experience.  The timing brought something different in some weird way. You felt it – it wasn't a regular fight night – people were on fire, they were crazy, it was special. 

“My short advice to Tom [Aspinall] and Leon [Edwards] is not to analyse it too much, it is what it is. Just make the best of it and act like you're working out at the regular time.’’

Q. What do you think is next for Michael Chandler after the Conor McGregor fight has fallen apart?

 AG: ‘‘I think Michael Chandler should fight someone else. He's been waiting for quite some time, he has his career to think of. I think he should let that Conor fight go and get some other fights that make sense for him.

“It's not good being inactive, you want to stay active, you want to be in the ring and feel fresh in your body. To stay competitive you need to maintain [time in the cage]. 

“I don't know if we'll see the same McGregor again but I would love to see him fight again. I hope he fights again, but he has a lot going on. Conor can knock anyone out but I think Chandler is too hungry to be beaten by Conor right now.  

“It feels like there will only ever be one Conor McGregor and I haven't seen anyone close to him when it comes to what he's doing. He's a marketing genius.’’

Q. Who do you see winning in the rematch between Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka?

AG: ‘‘Someone is getting knocked out. I have a feeling Jiri might win this one, but who knows. Someone is getting knocked out. Jiri has another chance, I think he will learn from defeat, and he will come back stronger. Because of the knockout loss he didn't have time to prove himself because it finished so early, but I'm expecting him to be stronger this time. He has a point to prove and I think the only thing he has in his mind right now is to prove he can beat him. But Alex is a beast, he touches and you go down. ’’

Q. Is Tom Aspinall ready to fight Jon Jones now?

AG: ‘‘Aspinall is on fire right now and he is a very, very good heavyweight. I don't see anyone beating Aspinall right now. I understand why Tom wants to fight Jon, it’s because Jon is the GOAT, he is the biggest UFC star right now. If Tom was to beat Jon it would be bigger than winning any UFC belt. The biggest achievement in the UFC right now is to beat Jon Jones. I understand why Aspinall is chasing the fight. I think he is ready for Jon. He's on fire right now. If he fights Jon Jones it should be now. 

“Yes, I think Tom will be too much for Jon. He has all the weapons to beat Jon. Jon hasn't been that active, but he's still the GOAT. You can never count this guy out, he's so freaking good at what he does. He's handled every opponent and everybody knows how good he is, but Aspinall right now, I see him as very dangerous for Jon right now. He's dangerous on his feet, he's fast, he has great footwork and he's a smart fighter. He has the tools to do good against Jon and even beat him. If they will fight, now is the time for Aspinall. He could go down as one of the best heavyweights ever.’’

Q. What are your predictions for a potential fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic?

AG: ‘’It's hard to see Stipe beating Jones. I like Stipe a lot, he's a great heavyweight, but it's hard to see him beating Jones. Stipe has done more than most heavyweights in the division, but I have a hard time seeing Stipe beat Jones.’’

Q. Will you be making a comeback to the UFC soon?

AG: ‘‘I'm not closing any doors, if I get an offer I get an offer and we'd take it from there. The life I'm living right now, it wouldn't take much for me to adapt and get back into fight mode. I'm still in the game, I still train with the pro-team. What I really want right now is to feel that hunger again of competing and walking into a training camp and going to hell and back. I need to feel that fire in my body, the feeling of wanting to go to hell and back to get myself ready physically and mentally. This is nothing new to me, I've been doing it for 15 years and I've been so close to getting that belt. I really want to feel the fire again. I will take any fight, I've been away for so long.’’