Alexander Gustafsson sent a message to Jon Jones Saturday and did so with an exclamation mark.
Gustafsson knocked out feared striker Jimi Manuwa in the main event of UFC Fight Night 37 in London, England.
After controlling Manuwa on the ground for the majority of the first round, Gustafsson decided to test the Brit on the feet in the second frame.
The six-foot-five Swede landed an enormous knee from the clinch that dazed Manuwa. Gustafsson followed up with several flush uppercuts that sent his opponent tumbling to the mat. As Manuwa tried to recover, he was met with several more big punches that forced the referee to call a stop to the bout.
“Jon Jones I want my title shot again,” an animated Gustafsson said after his win. “I’m right here. Whenever you want.”
Gustafsson (16-2) lost a close decision to Jones (19-1) in the main event of UFC 165 in Toronto last September. The bout was widely regarded as the best fight of 2013 and fans have been pining for a rematch ever since.
Jones is set to face against Glover Teixeira in the main event at UFC 172 on April 26 and if he defends his title, UFC president Dana White says a rematch with Gustafsson will be booked.
In the co-main event, Michael Johnson earned his third straight win in the Octagon, beating Melvin Guillard by unanimous decision.
The former Blackzilian teammates were vocal before the fight, however Guillard was not as aggressive as he usually is.
Johnson (15-8) out-struck Guillard (31–13–2, 2 NC) for the majority of the 15-minute bout, despite expressing frustration the fight wasn’t more exciting for the fans.
“I think I’ve got the best standup in the [lightweight] division.” said Johnson, who also has wins over Gleison Tibau, Joe Lauzon and Danny Castillo in the UFC.
UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs Manuwa prelims recap
In flyweight action, Brad Pickett was tested by UFC newcomer Neil Seery. The two 125-pounders traded shots for three exciting rounds, but Pickett took home a unanimous decision win, as he was able to mix in several takedowns throughout the bout.
The win was Pickett’s first in the flyweight division. The 35-year-old Londoner went 4-2 in the UFC’s bantamweight division before making the choice to drop down a weight class.
Pickett holds a win over current flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson — he beat him by decision at WEC 48 four years ago — which adds intrigue to Pickett being a new contender in the division.
Seery, who took the fight on short notice, impressed onlookers despite coming out on the wrong side of the decision.
The first fight of the main card saw rising welterweight star Gunnar Nelson improve to 12-0-1 with a submission win over Omari Akhmedov.
Nelson took the fight to the ground early, cut Akhmedov open with some ground-and-pound before synching in a guillotine choke that caused the Dagestani-born Russian to tap out.
Nelson is from Iceland, but trains in Ireland and is 7-0 fighting in England, so he felt comfortable in front of the U.K. fans at the O2 Arena.
“I love to fight here in England. I love the crowd,” a stoic Nelson said. “Like always, I don’t have a strict game plan. I just take the fight where it goes. I saw an opening and I went for it.”
