UFC spotlight a career boost for Gustafsson

Rising Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson has been thrust into a headlining role, with the organization holding an event in his hometown of Stockholm for the first time.

Gustafsson could find himself as a main attraction quite often if all goes well today in his UFC on Fuel 2 main event bout against Thiago Silva.

The 6-foot-5-inch 25-year-old has been adorned with the "future star" label, but a good performance in a challenging bout against Silva could make him a legitimate contender right now.

Gustafsson is comfortable appearing on the marquee for the first time, saying, "I'm just enjoying every second of being in the spotlight. It's all good. I've been 100 percent focused on my training, so that's where my head is."

Gustafsson has won four straight fights since suffering his only professional defeat, a submission loss to Phil Davis on April 10, 2010. All four victories were by stoppage, including a first-round dismantling of veteran Vladimir Matyushenko in December.

Of his 13 career victories, nine are by knockout and three by submission. Gustafsson won all four of his pre-UFC fights in Sweden by first-round knockout.

He has been training alongside Davis at Alliance MMA in San Diego since shortly after the loss, but has changed things up a bit for this fight. Gustafsson opened camp in Sweden, then came to Las Vegas for three weeks to train with his Alliance teammates, most of whom are in town filming "The Ultimate Fighter" with Dominick Cruz. Gustafsson then returned to Sweden for his final three weeks of training.

His all-around skills, combined with a long frame and impressive athleticism, have led to surging buzz about Gustafsson's future in mixed martial arts. He has often talked about not rushing things, however, and has stuck with that philosophy this week.

"For me, the only thing on my mind is this fight. Silva is a great opponent and the biggest test of my career to this point," he said. "(Whatever opportunities) come down the road, I will be ready."

Gustafsson seems to have relished the added responsibilities that come with fighting in a main event in his hometown, but knows his true job doesn't start until he steps inside the cage.

"It's just been great," he said. "I'm super-excited to do what I do."

Silva is fighting for the first time since receiving a one-year ban for providing a nonhuman urine sample to the Nevada Athletic Commission following a win over Brandon Vera on Jan. 1, 2011. The result later was changed to a no-contest.

His only career losses have come to former champions Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida.

Also on today's card, middleweight contender Brian Stann attempts to move past his October loss to Chael Sonnen when he faces Alessio Sakara. Stann had won three fights in a row since dropping to 185 pounds before running into Sonnen.

The main card will air live at noon on Fuel TV (Cable 319), with the entire preliminary card streaming live on Facebook at 9:30 a.m.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.