Gustafsson hands Manuwa first MMA loss

Alexander Gustafsson handed Jimi Manuwa his first MMA defeat in the main event of the UFC Fight Night card at Saturday night at O2 Arena. Stephen Lock / The National

LONDON // Alexander Gustafsson handed Jimi Manuwa his first MMA defeat in the main event of the UFC Fight Night card at Saturday night at O2 Arena.

Gustafsson controlled the first round after getting top position on a throw, and came out much more forcefully in the second, buckling Manuwa with a Muay Thai knee, and finishing him off with strikes on the ground.

“I was so glad to get a decision because my last couple of fights have gone the distance,” the Swede said. “Jimi Manuwa is a tough, powerful fighter, so my strategy was to try and wear him down a bit and drain that power. I got grazed a couple of times and you could definitely feel how hard he can throw. I want Jon Jones next; I can’t wait to have another chance at him.”

Michael Johnson unanimously outpointed Melvin Guillard. Johnson landed a left hook and a kneelift in the second round, in the best of the limited action.

“I wasn’t going to leave myself exposed, so I fought a smart fight,” Johnson said. “I’ve got the best stand-up in this division, and I’m willing to show that against anybody.”

While Brad Pickett hit four slams on Neil Seery, but struggled to land significant strikes or submission attempts from top position, and certainly lost out in the kickboxing battle. Still, the judges decided that “One Punch” was the more dominant fighter overall, and unanimously awarded him the victory.

Sweden’s Gunnar Nelson kicked off the main card with a commanding performance against Russia’s Omari Akhmedov, making him tap out with a guillotine choke.

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