10 UFC Fighter Comebacks Which Could Potentially Happen In 2020
2. Alexander Gustafsson
Fresh off the back of Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson's battle for the ages at UFC 165 being announced as the latest inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame, it's probably worth reminding ourselves just how fantastic a fighter the latter has been in the promotion.
Putting away the likes of Thiago Silva, Mauricio Rua, Jimi Manuwa, Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira, it looked as though greatness was always within touching distance for the big Swede.
Yet, losses to Jones (twice), Anthony Johnson, Daniel Cormier and lastly Anthony Smith seemed to derail the progress of this one-time UFC Light Heavyweight title contender.
Falling to a fourth round rear-naked choke at the hands of Smith in his last fight at UFC Fight Night 153 in June 2019, Gustafsson took off his gloves and left them in the Octagon. He announced that 'the show is over, guys' and thus ended his career.
Thankfully, Gustafsson doesn't look set to honour his retirement and Dana White confirmed in November 2019, 'we definitely talked to him, and he definitely wants to fight again.'
It's not clear who he will square up against in his eventual return bout, but - much like Manuwa - he'll have some serious work to do in order to be considered a top contender again in a division which has only gotten stronger since his exit.