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After suffering the most devastating loss of his career, UFC light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson says he nearly hung it up.
Gustafsson suffered a brutal, first-round TKO loss at the hands of No. 1 contender Anthony Johnson in January at UFC on FOX 14.
Aside from losing out on another shot at light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, Gustafsson was rudely dispatched on his home turf in Stockholm, Sweden.
Only the second stadium show in the promotion's history, the event enjoyed the second biggest attendance in company history as over 30,000 fans gathered inside the Tele2 Arena.
"It has definitely been my most difficult period in life so far," Gustafsson told Swedish newspaper Expressen. "I was completely serious about quitting MMA. I don't care really about the title, it was that it happened in front of my home crowd. My cousins were in place. It just took it too hard. I didn't have the will to continue. I was really close to quitting. But I have received so much love from fans, loved ones and my team."
Gustafsson will now face fellow former challenger Glover Teixeira June 20 in Berlin.
Snapping an eight-year undefeated streak, Teixeira lost back to back fights against Jones at UFC 172 and Phil Davis at UFC 179. He hasn't recorded a win since scoring a first-round 'Knockout of the Night' against Ryan Bader in September 2013.
"I had to bite the sour apple and now I have a new fight that made me very motivated," said Gustafsson. "If I had not wanted to do this anymore, I would have stopped. But I want to continue. There is no doubt about it. No one is forcing me. I'm not doing this for money, but to be the best in the world."
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Donald Cerrone's crew goes paintballing.
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TWEETS
No topo. E é assim que vou ficar.On the top. And that's how it's supposed to be."I'm the greatest"#Throwbackthursday #TBT
Posted by Jose Aldo Junior on Thursday, April 2, 2015
Cuttin'.
Having some fun finishing off the weight cut! #ufc #UFCFairfax #UFCFightNight #wmma @AJMMASignatures pic.twitter.com/NmkSEBSH3o
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) April 3, 2015
Beef.
@LukeRockhold April Fools LOL. The only thing better would have been if you were wearing the @BlackHouseMMA shirt
— Ed Soares (@edblackhouse) April 2, 2015
Get well soon.
Surgery went good today. Doctor said I won't die #TeamRuslan pic.twitter.com/T1P7IyLspa
— Ruslan Magomedov (@MagomedovUFC) April 2, 2015
Surgery was a success :) #homesweethome #healing #yogaroom https://t.co/mrspVYx2ue
— Jason Saggo (@jasonsaggo) April 2, 2015
I feel UR pain...RT @BenWallMMA: Sucks not being able to train but at least I can watch @amel619 (cont) http://t.co/CukE1vITok
— Dominick Cruz (@TheDomin8r) April 2, 2015
Agree?
If men and women are never going to fight each other in MMA, it makes no sense to have a mixed P4P ranking. Thoughts?
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) April 2, 2015
I know flyweights won't fight heavyweights. P4P ranking is based on accomplishment. But can you think of another sport with mixed rankings?
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) April 2, 2015
Multitasking.
This is how you baby-sit and workout at the same time. Who needs the gym? Assim q vc treina e é babá... https://t.co/qCL2UBPXoO
— ROBERT DRYSDALE (@robertdrysdale) April 3, 2015
I missed this one.
"It's ok Jessie, Slater can't hurt you anymore." #Deadpool https://t.co/wr5G7Tsk39 http://t.co/KTqDJMdJTN
— Gina Carano (@ginacarano) April 1, 2015
This Week in Struggle.
My wife is making me do chores!!! Minha esposa mandou eu fazer os afazeres de casa ! https://t.co/Ons2ULsKfI
— Lyoto Machida (@lyotomachidafw) April 2, 2015
"@canucks2017: @Cowboycerrone how's your wrestling coming along?" Slow and steady like a naked man crawling through barb wire
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) March 31, 2015
Yesterday was leg day, today is limp day.
— russell doane (@RussellDoane135) April 2, 2015
The face you make when the ref stops your fight because of a little blood. https://t.co/RtW2lUomtV pic.twitter.com/iPrHYkpYuN
— Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) April 2, 2015
Guys if a mosquito is on your nuts you'll find out violence isn't always the key fuck
— TyroneSpong (@Tyrone_spong) April 1, 2015
Well...I'm not sure what to do with myself anymore I thought we were best roomies for l... https://t.co/xp4uEJgrYT pic.twitter.com/2p8mVbsFoz
— Justine Kish (@JustineKish1) April 1, 2015
I need a fight! last 2 fights were rough for me. the eye poke no contest and hard cut poor performance. I'm hungry, motivated, & positive
— Daron Cruickshank (@Cruickshank155) March 31, 2015
How come I get weirdos offering to lick my feet and buy my "used" underpants but no one volunteers to come clean my bathroom???
— Peggy Morgan (@peggymorganmma) March 29, 2015
They just called A41. #DMV pic.twitter.com/JD2PfpKWAI
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) March 31, 2015
I say I'm not gonna cry every damn time and then... Damn you LaRusso pic.twitter.com/5wqEA5210F
— Sean Shelby (@seanshelby) April 1, 2015
I'm assuming @dc_mma was in the dressing room before me. #BakedGoods https://t.co/kTbgNNAeNz pic.twitter.com/OLgpvVtgdd
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) April 1, 2015
Another night that I can't fall asleep. Anyone ever seen the movie Tammy?
— Matt Hughes (@matthughes9x) April 2, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (April 2 2015)
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Dennis Siver at UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Teixeira
Niklas Backstrom vs. Noad Lahat at UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Teixeira
Nicolas Dalby vs. Elizeu Zaleski at UFC Fight Night: Alves vs. Condit
Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.
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