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'Gus' scores two wins, knocks out Glover Teixeira, gets engaged after bout

UFC light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson proposes to girlfriend Moa Johansson after knocking out Glover Teixeira Sunday in Stockholm, Sweden. (Getty Images)
UFC light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson proposes to girlfriend Moa Johansson after knocking out Glover Teixeira Sunday in Stockholm, Sweden. (Getty Images)

It was a big night for Alexander Gustafsson in more ways than one. The UFC light heavyweight contender sent the home crowd at Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, home happy with a dominant KO victory over Glover Teixeira Sunday.

Then, after taking care of business in the cage, he turned his attention to what he needed to do outside of it. He dropped to one knee and proposed to girlfriend Moa Antonia Johansson after the win, and the two embraced in the Octagon after the bout.

It was a dominant performance by Gustafsson, who won each of the four completed rounds on all three judges’ scorecards before the stoppage at 1:07 of the fifth.

Gustafsson used his huge reach advantage and his mobility to control Teixeira. Teixeira is an extremely hard hitter, but his striking defense is questionable and Gustafsson is much quicker.

The result was that Gustafsson stayed at range and fired bombs at Teixeira, landing big shots repeatedly. He finished the fight, connecting with a pair of uppercuts and then a right hand. The uppercut had been a money punch for him throughout the bout.

But he had to be patient and not rush things because Teixeira was always dangerous.

“Glover is a tough, tough guy,” Gustafsson said. “I was so honored to fight him here in my home in Stockholm. He has a good chin. He’s a real fighter. He goes through the pain and just keeps going. He is a strong, heavy-handed fighter. I just couldn’t stand and trade with him. I had to move and score points. I just took my time to get there.”

In an upset in the co-main event, Volkan Oezdemir knocked out highly touted Misha Cirkunov in just 28 seconds, putting Cirkunov to sleep with a crunching short right hand.

Alexander Gustafsson (R) cracks Glover Teixeira with an uppercut during his fifth-round KO Sunday in Stockholm, Sweden. (Getty Images)
Alexander Gustafsson (R) cracks Glover Teixeira with an uppercut during his fifth-round KO Sunday in Stockholm, Sweden. (Getty Images)