Alexander Gustafsson, widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists to never capture a UFC title, is officially parting ways with the promotion after 15 years and 18 fights.
The Swedish star’s most iconic moment came at UFC 165 in September 2013, where he pushed Jon Jones to the limit in a fight many consider one of the greatest in UFC history. Although Gustafsson lost by decision, some fans and analysts believed he had done enough to win. He later challenged for the light heavyweight championship on two more occasions, falling short against Daniel Cormier and in a rematch with Jones.
In recent years, “The Mauler” has struggled to find his footing, losing his last four fights. These include a knockout loss to Jones in their rematch, submission defeats to Anthony Smith and Fabricio Werdum, and a KO loss to Nikita Krylov in July 2022, which marked his most recent bout.
In a recent interview with Matias Andres of Maximum Sports, Gustafsson’s manager, Majdi Shammas, revealed that the veteran fighter had requested and been granted his release from the UFC.
“We asked the UFC to release Alex from his contract,” Shammas said. “They agreed, and we’re grateful for that.”
Gustafsson has since signed a lucrative deal with the Global Fight League (GFL), although the terms allow him to pick and choose his fights rather than locking him into an exclusive contract.
“There are a lot of interesting things that could come up along the way,” Shammas explained. “The GFL has given us a very appealing deal at this stage of our careers, and it’s simply the right time and the right place to strike a deal like this.”
In addition to his GFL deal, Gustafsson has reportedly received an offer from the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). He is expected to debut against a well-known former UFC or Bellator fighter, potentially adding an exciting new chapter to his storied career.
