By Michael Owens
An injury to Alexander Gustafsson means Daniel Cormier will step in to face Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 178.
The Swede tore his meniscus during training for his highly-anticipated rematch with the champ and will need surgery. It should be another six weeks of rehab before he can get back in the gym.
‘The Mauler’ told UFC.com how he was hurt.
“I was sparring and I felt my knee pop twice, but it didn’t hurt, it just felt strange,” he said. “I finished training and came home and then I woke up the next morning and I could barely walk on my right leg. Then I felt the knee right away.”
Luckily, the next best contender was waiting in the wings. What’s even more lucky is Cormier was due to have a period on the sidelines for his own knee surgery. That has been postponed, and barring an unmitigated disaster he’ll be ready for September 27 and a fight that could be even bigger than Jones vs. Gustafsson 2 given the ill feeling between DC and ‘Bones’.
Jones has opened as a 1/2 favourite, and that seems about right to Gus, who said he still expects his next shot at the title to be against the man he came so close to beating last year.
“It’s an interesting matchup. Both are great athletes and it’s going to be a tough fight for sure. But Jones has his height and reach advantage over DC, so I think that will be the key thing in this fight. I think Jones by decision.”
