Anthony Johnson gets Jon Jones next after knocking out Alexander Gustafsson

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 | 8:30 p.m.

Alexander Gustafsson tugged the collar of his T-shirt over his eyes as he wept at the conclusion of UFC on Fox 14.

The former top-ranked contender in the light heavyweight division wasn’t attempting to conceal the tears, which the second-largest crowd in UFC history of approximately 30,000 at Stockholm’s Tele2 Arena and millions more worldwide on television had already seen. He was wiping them away, right with his hopes to book the most anticipated rematch in mixed martial arts.

A second fight with champion Jon Jones, whom Gustafsson challenged more than any other fighter, will not take place anytime soon. Anthony Johnson came into enemy territory and took the opportunity away, beating Gustafsson in his hometown via TKO at 2:15 of the first round.

“I feel bad just because he’s crying,” Johnson said immediately afterwards while still in the cage. “I’m an emotional guy, so I feel his pain.”

Johnson also inflicted it on Saturday. The underdog attacked from the opening bell, getting Gustafsson backpedaling and clipping him with a right hand.

A disoriented Gustafsson stumbled to the mat, and Johnson didn’t let up. “Rumble” rained punches as “The Mauler” desperately tried to protect himself.

The referee warned Gustafsson to fight back or he’d stop the contest, and he saw enough when Johnson landed a pair of uncontested uppercuts.

“He just caught me,” Gustafsson said. “I got caught. That’s what happened today.”

Jones vs. Gustafsson II looked like potentially the UFC’s biggest fight of 2015 after the champion dispatched Daniel Cormier earlier this month. Johnson might not hold the same appeal at first glance, but he’s given the UFC quite a lot to work with promotionally.

No one had ever knocked out Gustafsson before Saturday. Johnson now has two straight first-round knockouts, beating Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in 44 seconds last summer at UFC on Fox 12, and nine consecutive victories.

“I think I’ll be the hardest puncher he’s ever faced,” Johnson said of Jones at the post-fight press conference. “Hopefully I can just do the things that no one else has done to him. Alexander gave him the worst beating he’s ever had, and hopefully I can give him one 10 times worse.”

Jones tweeted his approval by typing “this fight’s going to be awesome” and took a shot at Gustafsson by saying he was “not impressed” before deleting the second message. Despite Jones’ positive drug test for cocaine before the Cormier bout, the fight with Johnson is expected in the next few months.

Jones recently hinted on Twitter that he’d like to fight three times in 2015. Johnson came out of the victory unscathed and requested the championship bout as soon as possible.

“I’m ready whenever,” Johnson said.

UFC on Fox 14 was a big night for the 205-pound weight class overall. A move back to middleweight didn’t go according to plan for legend Dan Henderson, who had spent the past several years at light heavyweight, in the co-main event.

Gegard Mousasi beat Henderson via TKO at 1:10 of the first round. Henderson protested the stoppage, arguing he was coherent despite suffering a knockdown, but replay showed he was at least out for a split second.

The bout before showcased Ryan Bader inching toward his own title shot, upsetting Phil Davis by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) for his fourth straight win. Bader might get his own wish at a rematch with Jones, whom defeated him four years ago at UFC 126, eventually but he’ll have to wait.

Johnson is next. Gustafsson predicted a new champion.

“Anthony’s a beast,” Gustafsson said. “He came in with pressure and did what he needed to do.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.