When the phone rang for Andreas Gustafsson, his manager had the news that he’d be one of the first to fight on this year’s Contender Series. For any fighter, that call is a big step in their career, but that call also brought a great deal of relief for Gustafsson. With nearly seven years in the game and closing in on 25 fights, the wait wasn’t an easy one for him.
“Of course it was a relief to finally get that call. It’s one thing that you always strive for,” Gustafsson said. “But my first thought was ‘it is about time.”
It wasn’t just the amount of time that it took to get the call – although that too was frustrating. It was also watching those he had done battle with get chances that he was not afforded. He holds a win over Christian Leroy Duncan who is now in the UFC, and he went to decision with Joilton Lutterbach, who was signed by the UFC albeit briefly. Those factors made the wait even more difficult.
“It had been kind of frustrating, you know?” he said citing examples of fighters he had gone toe-to-toe with who have advanced in their careers much faster. “That’s the way it is. I’m not sad or angry about that. I’m just happy to get this opportunity to show everybody that I fit in the UFC.”
That chance will come this Tuesday against Pat Pytlik. Although he knows Pytlik is tough, it could be absolutely anyone across from him. After waiting this long, he’s ready for anything.
“I don’t care who I’m facing. It’s just a guy I need to beat to get in the big leagues. That’s not going to stop me,” Gustafsson said. “We’re going to fight until just one of us is standing and I know I’m going to be the guy standing there with his fist in the air.”
Gustafsson’s fight with Pat Pytlik takes place on Week 2 of Dana White’s Contender Series. The fight card begins at 7pm EST and airs on ESPN+.
