Jon Jones requests Alexander Gustafsson, but with injury, future uncertain

NEWARK, N.J. – With his foot in a makeshift boot from a gruesome toe injury suffered at UFC 159, light heavyweight champ Jon Jones (18-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) said Alexander Gustafsson (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) would make a good opponent for his next fight.

At the same time, Jones, who earned a first-round TKO of Chael Sonnen (27-13-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC) in the event’s headliner at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., brushed aside ex-champ Lyoto Machida (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC).

“I fought Lyoto Machida before,” Jones said shortly before being taken to a hospital to treat his injury. “I fight for the love of the sport, and I also fight to prove critics wrong. A lot of people think I’ve been successful because I appear to be larger than my opponents, and with Alexander, that would be no more.

“That’s who I would like to fight next.”

Swedish fighter Gustafsson, who measures 6-foot-5, is less than a month removed from a canceled headliner at UFC on FUEL TV 9. The 26-year-old was scheduled to fight Gegard Mousasi before suffering a cut above his eye that prompted the commission overseeing the event, which took place in Stockholm, to decline him medical clearance.

UFC President Dana White blasted the decision, saying Gustafsson was healthy enough to compete.

Now, Jones’ injury, and his timeline for recovery, will determine the UFC’s next step. Machida, who spoke to reporters prior to the event, said he, too, would like to fight Gustafsson if he is not next in line to fight Jones.

Despite beating Dan Henderson to cinch the No. 1 contender spot, Machida repeatedly has said his priority is to stay busy rather than wait for a title shot.

“I think Gustafsson is good for me,” he said. “As soon as possible. I don’t want to wait.”

If Jones is out an extended period of time – and White thinks that’s a likely outcome – it could clear the way for a fight between Machida and Gustafsson.

But for now, White will see what doctors have to say.

“We’ve got to see what happens … how long (Jones is) going to be out, and we’ll go from there,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Jones said he may have injured his toe on a takedown attempt and said he heard a pop in the middle of the fight, which was waved off late in the first after he rained down elbows on Sonnen.

“My adrenaline is still going right now,” said Jones, who defended his title a fifth time. “Maybe it’s not that serious of an injury.”

For complete coverage of UFC 159, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

(Pictured: Alexander Gustafsson)