UFC 316 provided a night of fireworks, with bonus-worthy fights flooding the card from start to finish. Many deserving fighters missed out on the extra 50,000-dollar bonus due to the sheer number of incredible moments. New stars appeared, former champions faded, and wars were had. One man who impressed in particular was Swedish welterweight fighter, Andreas Gustafsson.
Facing his second weight cut in as many weeks, as well as his third opponent in that time, Gustafsson had all the odds stacked against him. “Bane” went into the cage, pushed his chips to the middle of the table, and went all-in, wowing the audience with his gung-ho style. Matched up with knockout artist Khaos Williams, Gustafsson showed no signs of fear, displaying the Viking mindset he strives to possess. “Bane’s” gas tank showed no signs of slowing, despite three rounds of exceptional pace. Gustafsson amazed fans with his relentless dirty boxing and clinch work, leaving Williams a bloody mess by the time the final bell rang.
The question is, who’s next for the surging Swede?
Option #1 – Nicholas Dalby
Sweden versus Denmark, warrior versus warrior, this matchup is one for the fans. Dalby recently suffered a devastating knockout loss to Randy Brown a little over a month ago and may need some time to recover. However, if Dalby were willing to step back into the cage later this summer, Gustafsson would make the perfect opponent. Two Scandinavians who truly embody the Viking way, this would be a war fit for a battlefield. Dalby’s style complements Gustafsson’s, with both men relying on pressure and a ferocious mindset, with neither knowing the meaning of quitting. Just writing about this matchup makes me excited, with a potential fight of the year contender in the making.
However, as previously stated, Dalby suffered a heavy loss, breaking his nose in the process. Other options must be assessed if the Danish daredevil is too wounded to return to action so soon.
Option #2 – Themba Gorimbo
Themba Gorimbo represents a new challenge for Gustafsson, a rare case of a man who can match “Bane’s” superhuman gas tank and pressure. Gorimbo may hold the key to slowing down the Swede’s gathering momentum. Carrying a 4-2 record in the UFC, Gorimbo earned himself an opportunity to find himself in the rankings heading into his last fight with Vicente Luque. However, as so many have before, Gorimbo came unstuck vs the experienced Luque, being choked unconscious in the first round. For Gorimbo, Gustafsson would present an opportunity to regain his lost momentum. For Andreas, a fight with Gorimbo would be the biggest of his career, testing his skills against one of the division’s best.
Option #3 – Santiago Ponzinibbio
For our third and final potential option, Gustafsson gets the opportunity to face a UFC legend, with 20 fights in the promotion. Santiago Ponzinibbio has been a mainstay of the welterweight division since entering the promotion in 2013. The Argentine has become a real fan favourite, known for his finishing ability, having seven in the promotion. Ponzinibbio is always willing to take on a challenge, having recently faced Geoff Neal, Kevin Holland and Carlos Prates. A win over “The Argentine Dagger” would be huge for Gustafsson, pushing to within touching distance of a top-15 opponent.
Andreas Gustafsson has the potential to be a fan favourite in the UFC, with his fearless, relentless style immediately winning over the masses. His next fight must be chosen carefully by the UFC brass. Each of these options — Dalby, Gorimbo, or Ponzinibbio — would provide “Bane” with a perfect platform to keep his momentum rolling and carve out a place in the welterweight hierarchy.
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