Newark, NJ — The word “finally” can certainly be applied when it comes to Andreas Gustafsson’s debut at UFC 316 on Saturday.
Gustafsson was supposed to face Jeremiah Wells, then Trevin Giles, at last week’s UFC Vegas 107. After both men were forced out of the fight, Gustafsson was shifted to UFC 316, where he earned a unanimous decision in a welterweight fight with Khaos “The Ox Fighter” Williams.
“It’s been a troubling two weeks,” Gustafsson (12-2) admitted following a successful promotional debut. “Two pull outs, two weight cuts, two fight weeks. So I’m really happy to be here, I’m happy to get the win. I feel super.”
Gustafsson, following in the footsteps of the likes of Alexander Gustafsson and Jack Hermansson, represents Sweden, and he’s bringing a Viking mentality to his preparation.
“I never watch tape. Never. I never watch my opponents, I never study them, I just do my things,” he explained, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press at the Prudential Center. “Like I told some people before, back in the day when the Viking wakes up in the morning, they don’t go study their opponents before they get out in the battlefield. They just grab their axe and go berserk. Live or die.”
That said, the Swede will now take a bit of time off, and lead a normal life, before getting back in the gym. “Of course I want to stay active, but a couple of weeks now, vacation, absolutely. I just want to go home now to my wife and kid. I know they miss me, I think they want to keep me home for a couple of weeks.”
Despite that, Gustafsson will be ready to go all out soon enough. Or as he put it, “I’m always going to bring full retard. That’s the way I am.”
Watch the full UFC 316 post-fight media appearance by Andreas Gustafsson above.
