In the world of combat sports, there are nights when legends are forged, and there are nights when the legitimacy of the sport itself is called into question. September 21, 2013, was both.
Jon Jones entered UFC 165 as an unstoppable force. The reigning light heavyweight champion had torn through the division, finishing legends like Shogun Rua, Lyoto Machida, and Rampage Jackson with a mixture of unorthodox striking, wrestling dominance, and sheer athleticism. He wasn’t just winning fights—he was making elite fighters look like amateurs.
So when Jones was booked to face Alexander Gustafsson, a lanky but relatively unproven Swedish contender, most assumed it would be business as usual. Gustafsson was skilled, yes, but how would he stop Jones from rag-dolling him to the mat like he had done to everyone else? The oddsmakers didn’t think it was possible. The UFC brass likely didn’t either.
But then, the fight happened.
A Fight That Shook the Sport
From the opening bell, Gustafsson proved he was there to fight, not just survive. The first shock of the night came early—Gustafsson, not Jones, secured the fight’s first takedown. It was a moment that silenced the crowd. Nobody had ever taken down Jon Jones. Nobody.
From there, Gustafsson put on the performance of his life. His crisp boxing, superior footwork, and surprising takedown defense had Jones fighting off his back foot. As the fight progressed, it became clear that this wasn’t going to be another dominant Jones victory. This was a war.
For five grueling rounds, both men traded blows, each having their moments. By the time the final horn sounded, the fight was too close to call. Gustafsson had landed more strikes, controlled the distance, and avoided Jones’ signature takedowns better than anyone before him. Jones, on the other hand, had unleashed a brutal spinning elbow in the later rounds and finished the fight strong.
The MMA world held its breath. Was this the night the UFC’s golden boy was dethroned?
Then came the judges’ decision.
The Controversy: Was the Fight Rigged?
“Unanimous decision… and still!”
Jones had won.
The crowd was split. Some cheered, but many booed. The fight had been razor-close, but a unanimous decision in favor of Jones seemed suspicious. Then, almost immediately, another controversy surfaced—one that cast an even darker shadow over the outcome.
FightMetric, the UFC’s official stat-tracking system, had shown Gustafsson with a 191-120 edge in significant strikes. But soon after the decision was announced, those numbers were mysteriously altered. The final count now favored Jones, 137-114. A massive statistical swing in the champion’s favor.
The UFC claimed it was simply correcting errors, something that supposedly happens all the time (Source: Bloody Elbow). But given the stakes, the timing, and the drastic shift in numbers, the explanation didn’t sit well with many fans.
And that raises the ultimate question:
Did the UFC Rig the Fight? And If So, Why?
Now, let’s be clear—there’s no definitive proof the UFC tampered with the fight. But the circumstances make it hard to ignore the possibility.
If the UFC did manipulate the outcome, the biggest reason would be money.
Jon Jones wasn’t just a champion—he was the UFC’s biggest star. His dominance, charisma (and later, his scandals) kept the MMA world glued to their screens. A loss to Gustafsson—an unmarketable European fighter with little mainstream appeal—would have derailed the UFC’s plans for Jones as a long-term superstar.
A Gustafsson victory wouldn’t have sold pay-per-views. It wouldn’t have set up blockbuster fights. It wouldn’t have kept the light heavyweight division in the spotlight.
On the other hand, Jones barely surviving a war? That was marketable. That made headlines. That created the demand for a rematch—one the UFC would milk for all it was worth.
And that’s exactly what happened.
A Scripted Rematch?
After UFC 165, the narrative was set: Jon Jones had been pushed to his limit but found a way to win. The rematch was inevitable. But here’s where things get even murkier.
Despite the controversy, the UFC didn’t immediately book the rematch. Jones went on to defend his title against Glover Teixeira before finally facing Gustafsson again—two years later. But by then, the hype had faded, and injuries kept delaying the fight. When they finally did book it, Gustafsson wasn’t the same fighter.
Jones dominated the rematch, winning by TKO in the third round (Source: MMA Fighting). The rivalry was over, and the UFC had secured its preferred outcome—Jones standing tall as the undeniable champion.
Was This an Isolated Incident?
This wasn’t the first time the UFC had been accused of influencing fights. Fans have pointed to questionable judging decisions, referee stoppages, and even selective matchmaking as evidence that the UFC prioritizes business over fairness.
Dana White has always denied any manipulation, but the reality is that the UFC has every reason to protect its most valuable stars. Unlike traditional sports leagues, where teams compete under a governing body, the UFC is both the promoter and the matchmaker. They control who fights, when they fight, and—if you believe the skeptics—who wins.
Final Thoughts: Did the UFC Screw Gustafsson?
At the end of the day, Gustafsson came closer than anyone to dethroning Jon Jones in his prime. But whether he truly lost that fight or was robbed by a business decision is something we may never know.
What we do know is this:
• The judges’ unanimous decision for Jones was controversial.
• The FightMetric stats were changed in real-time, raising major red flags.
• The UFC benefited greatly from Jones winning and avoiding an unmarketable champion.
• The rematch wasn’t booked until it was convenient for the UFC.
Was UFC 165 an outright fix? Maybe not. But was the deck stacked in Jones’ favor from the start? Absolutely.
What do you think? Did the UFC rig the fight to keep Jon Jones on top? Or was it just a hard-fought, close decision? Let us know in the comments.
What do you think? Did the UFC rig the fight to keep Jon Jones on top? Or was it just a hard-fought, close decision?
0%Rigged
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Sources:
• Bloody Elbow – FightMetric Controversy
• MMA Fighting – UFC 165 and the Rematch
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