It's just so common for MMA fighters to make some sort of exit from the industry, stew for a while on the sidelines and perhaps pursue other things for a career, eventually, I guess, miss the spotlight, and then come crawling back.
Most of the time people that do this left in rather unfortunate situations and this is definitely the case for Alexander Gustafsson, who lost 4 straight before he "retired" and hasn't won a fight since 2017 I think it was. He didn't retire so much as he faded into obscurity and his downfall was a particularly brutal one since he spent money like an asshole when the purses were big and once they dried up (they always do, ask Mike Tyson) he suddenly was faced with the reality that his lifestyle was not sustainable based on his income levels.
There is a very big reason why anyone would even entertain his notions of a return to the sport after such a lackluster exit though, and unfortunately it has a lot less to do with him and a lot to do with stubborn Jon Jones.
Gustafsson was the closest that Jon Jones ever came to losing in the octagon except for his one loss that will likely be overturned because of changes to the rules. I know that fight well, as I do the rematch. Alex had exactly what it took to get to Jones in that he was patient, explosive on punches and counters, and weighed just enough to give Jones a real run for the money.
This decision could have gone either way, and many of us in attendance felt as though Jones was handed the victory because he is Jon Jones, not necessarily because he really did win the fight. Regardless, this was the first time that many of us actually saw Jones on the defensive and dare I say, scared of the other person in there with him. For most of the fight Alex controlled the pace and it seemed like nothing Jones would do, including his signature eye-pokes, was working.
It is just a shame that after these two fights (both of which Jones won) Gustafsson would go on to accomplish little to nothing in the octagon and would even cry in the post fight interview when he lost badly in front of a hometown crowd in one of the other UFC events that has ever taken place in his home country of Sweden. The loss was really bad as not only was he submitted in that fight, but was run around the ring, looking like an amateur out of his element, and was finished by a man nobody has considered part of the picture for a long time in Anthony Smith.
He announced his retirement after this loss and nobody has really heard much out of him since then. That was, until we heard about GFL firing up this year and Alex' name was on the list of competitors that will be included in GFL.
There's a real big problem with GFL though and now it doesn't look entirely sure that the promotion is even going to start up at all and the people on that list are likely starting to get worried if it is ever going to happen. I suppose this is why Gustafsson started talking to the press because honestly, he needs to act now if he is going to act at all.
I am willing to bet that it is really quite humbling for him to be in this position because unfortunately he is remembered best for going on a losing skid and then just quitting after things weren't going his way. I am sure this takes a massive mental toll on the man because his legacy will always be the "guy who nearly beat Jon Jones." Unfortunately for Alex, there really isn't much else to talk about in his career. He was a flash in the pan and he honestly doesn't have a great many notable wins. Also, we have to go back all the way to 2013 to see the segment of his career where he was on a hot streak and sadly, that list of people that he defeated were all journeymen at that point who themselves were operating off of old legacy rather than current capability and yes, I am looking at you "Shogun" Rua!
His last fight with UFC was back in 2022 and he lost by KO in the first round by KO on a Fight Night for very little money where he only landed 5 significant strikes before being put down. That was all UFC needed to see and even though Alex had reneged on his "retirement" twice at that point, the UFC was now not offering him an option about quitting or not and let him go.
With GFL losing its spot in the sun so quickly now, many of the fighters are scrambling to see what their options are outside of it and for someone like Gustaffson, I wouldn't say that the door is all the way closed as far as UFC is concerned because if there is one thing that Dana White appears to love doing, it is to take in older washed up fighters and use them in order to propel younger talent to the limelight.
I think that Alex, if he can somehow muster some of that vision that brought him to the forefront all those years ago, could actually pull off a comeback that people would actually care about and would sell tickets like wild, but in the end unless he does something truly spectacular, his return would only serve to further tarnish his already tarnished name and legacy.
I get it though, the dude needs money and I wish him the best. I just wouldn't count on anything that he comes up with actually being fruitful.