Alexander Gustafsson: Daniel Cormier Sees Stipe Miocic As ‘An Easier Fight’ Than Facing Me Again
Alexander Gustafsson is never at a loss for words when it comes to UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.
For the past few weeks, Gustafsson has expressed his frustration time and time again when discussing Cormier after he was matched up against heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic for a super fight rather that another defense of his 205-pound title.
Cormier facing Miocic likely meant Gustafsson would have to wait for another shot at the belt and will probably end up facing someone else in the mean time.
That’s never sat well with Gustafsson, who now claims that Cormier took the fight with Miocic because it was an easier fight than facing him for a second time after their first battle ended in a razor close split decision.
”I truly believe [Daniel Cormier] sees Stipe (Miocic) as an easier fight than a rematch against me,” Gustafsson told Viaplay Fight Week. “I get that it’s a money fight but I really don’t think he wants to fight me. And I mean, I want to get my shot [at the title] again. I was really close [to winning the belt at UFC 192].
“There’s no other logical fights for me in the division. Heck, it’s time for me to challenge him again.”
With the light heavyweight title tied up, Gustafsson took to Instagram last week to call out former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in an attempt to goad Cormier’s teammate into a showdown at 205 pounds.
From the sound of things, Gustafsson is now resigned to taking another fight rather than sitting out for most of the year waiting for Cormier to return.
In fact, Gustafsson believes that the UFC might want to introduce an interim belt in Cormier’s absence from the division.
“It’s probably going to be a interim title fight between me and someone else. Or else he should relinquish the belt,” Gustafsson said.
As much as Gustafsson wants to fight Cormier for the title, it’s tough to imagine the UFC introducing an interim belt right now. Cormier just fought and defended the gold in January when he took out Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 220.
Given that fact, Gustafsson might end up against another opponent but it’s doubtful a title will be on the line until Cormier is ready to return to the light heavyweight division.
