Super fights are great for entertainment and business purposes. However they have drawbacks of their own. The division gets stagnated and the undisputed contenders who have worked their way up do not get their title shot. Same has been the case with #1 ranked contender Alexander ‘The Mauler’ Gustafsson.
Gustafsson made it clear by knocking out Glover Teixeira in a striking clinic to cement himself a title shot. However injuries kept him away and the opportunity was handed to fellow light heavyweight Volkan Ozdemir. Now that he is recovered, Cormier, who now holds the heavyweight belt, has no plans to cut down at least as of now.
“It’s frustrating because he has something I want,” Gustafsson told MMANytt recently. “He doesn’t come back down and face me and he’s keeping the belt. But at the same time, the hunt isn’t over. … I might continue chasing [DC]. If I need to move up to heavyweight to face him, I will.”
Cormier is now seeking to fight former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, and the idea is even more frustrating for Gustafsson.
“It’s not fun and pretty ridiculous in my opinion,” Gustafsson said of the Lesnar fight. “I don’t see the logic in this fight. It’s only a money fight [because] Brock has a big following from wrestling.
“I understand DC though. He wants to make money. It’s a better fight for his wallet, fighting Brock instead of going down to fight me. It’s a way bigger risk to fight me.”
Gustafsson believes if moving up to heavyweight is what it takes to fight Cormier, then he is ready to move up.
Gustafsson is now scheduled to fight at UFC 227, however his opponent Luke Rockhold and replacement Volkan Ozdemir both have pulled out due to injury, reportedly the whole bout is in jeopardy.
Read also:
UFC: Alexander Gustafsson feels Daniel Cormier is ‘better at heavyweight’
UFC: Daniel Cormier says that Brock Lesnar will be the last opponent of his career
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