Tony Reid-You are a superstar in your home country of Sweden now. What are some of the benefits you get from being such a big star there? As a follow up, what is the MMA scene like in Sweden now compared to when you training there growing up? Can you put into words how much it means to you to be headlining the first UFC event in Sweden?

Alexander Gustafsson-I really don’t have any benefits by being a UFC fighter, not in Sweden anyway (Laughs). The MMA scene is good but can be much bigger and now when the UFC is coming, it can’t be better! To be a part of that, the UFC coming here, is a dream come true and it’s hard to explain with words!

Tony Reid-All of your training partners say how nice you are, how you are always smiling and how you never seem to get upset. So what is the one thing that completely pisses you off? What has to happen for “The Mauler” to come out in your personal life?

Alexander Gustafsson- (Laughs) That’s really good! I don’t know really but we all have our own dark side right?

Tony Reid-Your only professional loss is to current training partner and top UFC Light Heavyweight Phil Davis. Walk us through how you went from being opponents to teammates. You guys are both rapidly climbing the ranks at 205. What would happen if the UFC asked you two to fight now?

Alexander Gustafsson-We fought and I realized that I was lacking in my wrestling so we talked and I ended up here in San Diego at Team Alliance. I don’t know what we would do! (Laughs) If it’s up to me, I would not fight him! He is my friend and training partner now.

Tony Reid-Now that you are training at Alliance with guys like Phil, Brandon Vera, Dominick Cruz and Ross Pearson, what was the most memorable moment from any training session you have been involved in there?

Alexander Gustafsson-Its hard to say. Every sparring session is a new experience every time, every day.

Tony Reid-How did you get your nickname “The Mauler”?

Alexander Gustafsson-It was given to me by my old trainer. He gave me my nick name a few years ago.

Tony Reid-If you could choose one fight from your career that every MMA fan should see which fight would you choose and why?

Alexander Gustafsson- I would say my fight against James Te Huna because he was kicking my ass before I got my submission!

Tony Reid-You are quickly climbing the ladder at Light Heavyweight but hypothetically speaking, if you could fight anyone in any weight class who would you choose to fight and why?

Alexander Gustafsson-I would say Fedor (Emelianenko) in his prime because he’s such a legend.

Tony Reid- I’m sure you have done many interviews and generally get asked the same questions over and over. That being said, what is the one question you have never been asked in an interview and what is the answer to that question?

Alexander Gustafsson-That is a hard question. (Laughs)I don’t know!

Tony Reid-If you could fight anyone outside the world of MMA, who would you choose to pick a fight with and why?

Alexander Gustafsson- I would fight Rocky Balboa. He’s a beast!

Tony Reid-Who are the people that inspire you most, personally and professionally?

Alexander Gustafsson-I am inspired by every champion in the UFC and by Fedor Emelianenko.

Tony Reid-If you weren’t a professional mixed martial artist what would you be doing for a living right now?

Alexander Gustafsson-I don’t know, maybe I would be in school.

Tony Reid-Who are your favorite fighters to watch and why? Conversely, who are your least favorite fighters to watch?

Alexander Gustafsson-I like to watch fighters that get after their opponent and go for the finish. I don’t like decisions.

Tony Reid-Many professional athletes have strange superstitious habits. Do you have any we should know about?

Alexander Gustafsson- No, not really.

Tony Reid-Thank you so much for your time Alexander. Is there anything you would like to add that we haven’t covered yet?

Alexander Gustafsson- Thanks Tony! It’s all good!