As a pure athletic matchup, Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Smith is intriguing, even if the UFC Stockholm competitive stakes are almost incomprehensibly besides the point. This is what happens when a champion has already smashed his way through a couple of top contenders; they are left to fight for pride and not much else. A win is unlikely to move either one any closer to Jones, who has beaten both within the last six months. They are already in his orbit, but can only continue to circle him from afar.
The undefined prize is problematic in a sport where both the athletes and fans want to be able to anticipate a route toward the title, or at least to understand what forward momentum looks like.