Here's Hoping Alexander Gustafsson Wins at UFC 232

I have nothing but the deepest respect for mixed martial arts fighters because I cannot think of another sport where athletes train so hard and put so much on the line when it comes time to perform. The sheer endurance required to be successful in MMA is enough to boggle the mind. Having said this, I have lost considerable respect for the UFC, the premier MMA organization in the world today, due to its various controversies and marketing gimmicks that occasionally rival those of professional wrestling outfits. Nonetheless, the UFC remains the place with the most elite fighters and the most compelling fights. Case and point, UFC 232 is set to go down today and the card pits two longtime rivals – Jon Jones and Alex Gustafsson – against each other for the second time as they vie for the recently-vacated light heavyweight title.
 
This rematch has been a long time coming – nearly five years – and promises to be an exciting affair. Jones and Gustafsson first met at UFC 165; in that brutal match Jones was pushed to limits he had never experienced while Gustafsson came up just short of shocking the world. The question in every MMA fan’s mind today is will Gustafsson come up short again or will Jones finally suffer defeat within the octagon? I am hoping for the latter because I believe that Jones, for all his self-destructive, arrogant, and undisciplined behavior both in and outside the octagon, deserves to lose, and Gustafsson, for his stoicism and dedication to the sport, deserves the win. Unfortunately, MMA cares little for who deserves what, and if history is any guide, then Jones will likely defeat Gustafsson again. Regardless, I will be cheering for the Mauler and hoping he will tonight.
 
Go get ‘im, Alex!