Gustafsson: Jon Jones 'not a champion in my eyes'

After putting on a championship-worthy performance on Sunday, Alexander Gustafsson had words for light heavyweight great Jon Jones.

"The Mauler" had a successful homecoming at UFC Fight Night 109 in Stockholm, Sweden, dominating fellow contender Glover Teixeira before finishing him with strikes in the fifth round. That win kept Gustafsson in position for an eventual title shot, possibly against a past foe like Jones or Daniel Cormier.

When asked at the post-fight press conference to clarify some negative comments he'd previously made against Jones, Gustafsson was blunt.

"He is the biggest enemy. I don't like him," Gustafsson said, according to Damon Martin of FOX Sports. "I give him that he is the best fighter of all time, he is pound-for-pound the best fighter in our division. Of course, everybody knows that. He never lost, he hasn't lost yet.

"He demolished everyone he fights but as a person, as a champion, he's not a champion in my eyes. He's not a good person in my eyes."

Gustafsson is likely referring to Jones' history of personal and legal problems outside the Octagon. Over the past two years, Jones has tested positive for cocaine, had a UFC title stripped after being arrested for a hit-and-run, and was flagged for a USADA violation that led to him being removed from the main event of UFC 200 and suspended for 12 months.

Prior to that stretch of troublesome behavior, Jones built up a resume on par with the greatest fighters in history (including wins over Gustafsson and Cormier). He returns to the Octagon on July 29 to challenge Cormier for the title, which he never actually lost in competition.

Gustafsson is rooting for the more clean-cut Cormier.

"That's why I always tell the guys I hope 'DC' wins because I like the guy," Gustafsson said. "He's a worthy champion. That’s what I mean when I say (Jones is) the biggest enemy of all time."