Alexander Gustafsson still isn’t happy.
After his initial reaction to hearing that Daniel Cormier would still receive the next shot at Jon Jones ahead of him, despite the champion’s injury causing him to miss UFC 178, Gustafsson hasn’t settled down. The Swede (8-2) was promised an immediate rematch after he nearly dethroned light heavyweight champion Jones (14-1 UFC) in a “Fight of the Year” at UFC 165 in 2013. Instead, Gustafsson fought – and knocked out – Jimi Manuwa in March, and Jones notched another title defense after earning a decision win over Glover Teixeira in April. All of that was served as the perfect appetizer to the pair meeting again at UFC 178. But when a torn meniscus sidelined Gustafsson, Cormier (4-0 UFC) stepped in an an injury replacement, and “Lusty Gusty” was expected to get the winner. Now that Jones’ own knee and ankle injuries scratched the UFC 178 fight and moved it from Sept. 27 to Jan. 3 at UFC 182, as announced Tuesday, officials decided to still give the next match to Cormier ahead of Gustafsson.
Yesterday, the peeved former #1 contender discussed Jones and Cormier’s on-stage press-conference brawl at an Aug. 4 media tour stop:
