Fatherhood incoming

Preparing Manuwa

London a missed opportunity

Teixeira the man he wants

Believes Bader should do what's right for him

Teixeira in Stockholm--let's do it

Rematch with Jones inevitable

2017 will be his year

Alexander Gustafsson is preparing himself for a big ten months.The Swedish fan favorite was last seen in the UFC Octagon back in Sept. 2016 when he won a dominant unanimous decision over Polish fighter, Jan Blachowicz. Ever since then, Gustafsson has been on the sidelines patiently waiting for the call from the UFC to come, but without any worthy contenders ready to challenge him, the Swede has been out of action for an extended period once again.While the action in the Octagon hasn't been so forthcoming, developments in Gustafson's personal life have more than kept him on his toes. The former UFC title contender recently got the news he is expecting his first child and speaking to FloCombat this past weekend, he said he's relishing fatherhood."I've not been up to much since Hamburg really, I've just been in Stockholm training and just doing my thing. It's been a quiet period for me again in my fighting career."The news of my first child coming has been very interesting and I'm very happy because of it. There's been a lot of planning for that already. I feel very good about it--I feel very good about everything. The close the date gets the more excited I am."While preparing for fatherhood, Gustafsson has been hard at work in the gym with his fellow teammates helping them prepare for upcoming fights. Jimi Manuwa is one of those teammates and he's getting ready for a big main event at UFC Fight Night 107 in London, England on March 18. Gustafsson says his fellow light heavyweight is in great form ahead of the bout and that he's been training well with the team in Stockholm."I've been training with Jimi these past few weeks and we've been training hard every day," Gustafsson said. "He's fit, I'm fit. He's in shape and he's ready for London. The time to fight is closing in now, but we are still training good every day."We are sparring and spending a lot of time working together in the gym. He's ready now, ready to go."Gustafsson himself was heavily rumored with the main event slot in London, but after no worthy contender came to the fore, his hopes of headlining fell through. The Swede admitted he was disappointed he wouldn't get to fight in Europe again, but that with the position he was in it was all about facing one of the other guys in title contention."Yeah of course I'm disappointed, but you know, I just have to be patient," Gustafsson said. "As I said, I'm waiting for the call from the UFC and I hope they come to me with the right opportunity."I just need to have them come to me with a fight that will take me forward. Of course, it would've been fun to fight back in London, but I'm not letting it get me down. I'm staying busy in the gym and just waiting for the call."With Glover Teixeira coming back strongly against Jared Cannonier last month at UFC 208 in Brooklyn, New York, the Swede sees him as a credible next opponent to put himself back in the title picture."Absolutely Glover is a guy that makes sense for me next," Gustafsson said. "I'll happily fight him or any other of the top guys too. For me it just has to make sense and if I take a fight and I want it to put me in a better position than I was if I didn't take it."Gustafsson had previously stated that Ryan Bader is another man he would've happily fought. Unfortunately, that fight for the minute won't be taking place with Bader now expected to join Bellator after listening to offers as a free agent. Gustafsson said he was happy that Bader was doing what he thought best, but he couldn't ever imagine himself doing the same."Sure, Bader's a guy I would've fought because he's a top fighter," Gustafsson said. "He has a good way with himself and he's a fighter I would've like to have tested myself against for sure."I'm not really all that disappointed he's off to Bellator though--that's his decision. If he thinks that's the right way for him then good luck, but whatever good luck to him. He would've been a nice name to beat."A few weeks ago, FloCombat broke the news that the UFC was looking at a date in May to come back to Stockholm for the first time since 2015. Gustafsson said he'd of course want to be part of the card and that headlining against Teixeira is the fight he wants."I don't need to say it, but I'd love that opportunity absolutely," Gustafsson said in regards to being in the main event. "If I got offered to fight Teixeira in my hometown then I wouldn't need to think--absolutely 100% I take that fight."It's easy for me. It means a lot fighting in Stockholm. I would have family, friends all coming to watch so it would mean everything. There's nothing like fighting at home."Back in 2013, Gustafsson famously took Jon Jones to depths that he'd never been to before at UFC 165. With Jones set to return later this year, Gustafsson already has one eye of getting that rematch put together."Yeah for sure I still want that rematch with Jones," Gustafsson said. "That's another fight where I wouldn't need to think about it and I'd take that fight right away."It's not something I've spoken to the UFC about lately, but let's face it I think a lot of people would want to see that fight again and I think it would sell well. It makes sense for a lot of different people so I'm sure it will happen at one point."Having had multiple injury setbacks and frustrating periods on the sidelines without a fight, the Swede is looking to make 2017 his year and to be as active as possible. Gustafsson feels like it's time to make up for lost ground and he's ready to do some real damage in the next ten months."I want to fight as much as possible, but I can only take fights when UFC offer me them and my body allows me to fight," Gustafsson said. "I have great feelings about the year ahead and I feel this is a big point for me in my career."I've had a hard time with injuries and the like which has meant I haven't competed as much as I would've liked. That's behind me now and I'm ready to fight. The only way is up now and I'm coming for that belt, I'm coming for that world championship. I'm going out there to prove I'm the best in the world, but I know I've got to prove that with my actions. The next step is to make myself the next title contender and then I'll prove myself from there."