One of the most talented pound-for-pound fighters in the last 10 years in UFC history hung up his gloves just three months ago - but he could be about to reverse that decision.

Alexander Gustafsson has had a storied MMA career, and his fighting under the UFC banner started way back in 2009 as a 22-year-old.

It took him four years to earn a title shot, and when he received that at UFC 165 against Jon Jones, it received critical acclaim and many publications named it as the Fight of the Year.

Gustafsson had two more title fights in his career, and both were losses to Daniel Cormier and then Jones again in December 2018, where he failed to avenge the loss from five years prior.

But just six months after his second loss to 'Bones', he announced his MMA career was over following defeat to Anthony 'Lionheart' Smith in his home country of Sweden, leaving his gloves in the Octagon and telling the fans that 'the show is over'.

Speaking to MMA Viking recently though, 'The Mauler' looks like he's seriously reconsidering that decision.

“I’m talking with the UFC, we are going back and forth,” said Gustafsson.

“I was home for a couple days, and I had itching in my hands and wanted to get back and train. I just want to train and get into shape."

And he's set his sights on a fellow UFC legend and former champion as his potential comeback fight.

"A fight against Luke [Rockhold] would be a great way to come back. He is a tough guy, a legend," stated 'The Viking'.

Rockhold himself has lost two on the spin, most recently to Jan Blachowicz in July, a fight where Rockhold suffered a broken jaw - an injury in which Dana White asked him to consider retirement after suffering it.

It would be a pretty fair match-up but Gustafsson would need to do a lot of work to make the 205-pound weight limit, considering he's stated himself he's around 40 pounds over that mark currently.

And it wouldn't be the first time a UFC fighter has 'confirmed' their retirement and gone back on their word - would it, Conor McGregor?