Leading Swedish fighter Alexander Gustafsson will get his long awaited second shot at the UFC Light-Heavyweight Championship when he serves as the first man to step up and face newly crowned champion Daniel Cormier.
UFC president Dana White made the announcement via “UFC Tonight” on Wednesday.
Many expected that #3 ranked light-heavyweight Ryan Bader (19-4) would be first in line as a fresh face in the title mix following the accumulation of a four fight win streak and a rivalry with Cormier (16-1) that intensified with a verbal confrontation at the UFC 187 post-fight press conference.
Cormier claimed the vacant title at UFC 187 on May 23 with a third round rear-naked-choke submission over top contender Anthony Johnson. Cormier stepped in to replace former champion Jon Jones who stripped of the title following an alleged hit-and-run incident.
The new champion was originally set to face Bader at this weekend’s UFC Fight Night in New Orleans before stepping in to fight for the belt two weeks earlier.
Gustafsson (16-3) is 1-2 in his last three contests. ‘The Mauler’ lost a debatable unanimous decision to Jones in 2013 in a bout that was declared ‘Fight of the Year’. The Swede bounced back with a TKO victory over the UK’s Jimi Manuwa, but was swiftly crushed by Anthony Johnson via TKO in the first round on January 4 in Sweden. The contest was to decide who would go on to challenge Jones for the crown.
A date for the fight is yet to be announced.
