LOS ANGELES – Alexander Gustafsson has historically been hesitant to definitively label Jon Jonesas a cheater. “The Mauler” is done being political about the situation, though, and said no doubts remain in his mind.

After Jones’ (22-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) “atypical” drug test results ahead of UFC 232 caused the event to be relocated from Las Vegas to Inglewood, Calif., on just six days’ notice, Gustafsson has run out of leeway for his rival and upcoming opponent.

Numerous failed drug tests paired with the most recent issue have caused Gustafsson to make up his mind, and he let it be known at today’s UFC 232 pre-fight news conference.

“Yes, I do (believe he’s a cheater),” Gustafsson told reporters, including MMAjunkie, at the UFC 232 pre-fight news conference. “Yes I do. This guy is not confident. He has to put (expletive) in his body to be confident. That’s all it is.”

Jones, who meets Gustafsson in Saturday’s pay-per-view headliner at The Forum following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass, has rigorously defended himself as someone who has never knowingly taken performance-enhancing drugs. So naturally, he took umbrage with Gustafsson’s comments.

“It’s good that you actually believe that a microscopic (picogram) has allowed me to be more confident,” Jones said in response. “I’m glad that you believe that.”

When the issue arose prior to UFC 232, Gustafsson was given the option to postpone the fight to March if he felt uncomfortable with the situation. He opted to proceed, though, because he’s so eager to get his hands on Jones more than five years after giving “Bones” his most competitive fight ever in a unanimous decision loss at UFC 165 in September 2013.

Gustafsson said there’s nothing Jones can put in his body that will stop him from losing the anticipated rematch, and the Swede said his rival will get his comeuppance at UFC 232.

“It won’t help you this time,” Gustafsson said. “There’s illegal stuff in your body. … Whatever this guy’s saying, it’s just bull(expletive). He’s terrible. It’s just terrible. He’s terrible. I’m here to fight.

“Whatever this guy is saying, you can’t take it serious. He’s just terrible. He is terrible. He will eat it. He will eat it on Saturday night. I’m telling you. He will eat everything on Saturday night.”

For more on UFC 232, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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