Newer fans might not remember, but there was a time when Jon Jones was at least equally known for what he did in the cage as he was infamous for his overwhelming number of foul-ups outside it.
It's been a full dozen years since Jones had what likely was his first legitimate test in the UFC. After five light heavyweight title defenses in 19 months, Jones ran into Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 in Toronto.
Gustafsson took Jones the distance, but dropped a unanimous decision. Jones retained his title with a pair of 48-47 scores and a 49-46, but left Canada battered and bloodied and stitched up and patched up like never before in his career.
Gustafsson didn't look much better after the bloody battle, which was an obvious Fight of the Night winner. In 2021, the bout was inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame.
Gustafsson got another shot at Jones a little more than five years later with the then-vacant 205-pound title on the line, but lost with a third-round knockout.
Check out highlights of the Hall of Fame fight above, as well as additional vintage content below.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Sept. 21, 2013 MMA history | Jon Jones-Alexander Gustafsson 1, UFC 165
