Daniel Cormier opts for knee surgery after UFC Fight Week 'superfight'

Daniel Cormier will have one more match – of the non-MMA variety – before knee surgery and a potential title fight in early 2015.

Cormier set the timeline now that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (20-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is officially (and finally) slated to rematch Alexander Gustafsson (16-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) on Sept. 27 at UFC 178.

Jones had expressed interesting in fighting Cormier (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) instead. Cormier, in fact, put off a needed knee surgery in case the title shot presented itself.

However, with that possibility gone and Gustafsson up next, the undefeated fighter will undergo surgery in early July, Ariel Helwani reported on Wednesday’s edition of “UFC Tonight.” Up first, though, Cormier will meet fellow amateur wrestling standout Chris Pendleton in an exhibition bout on July 5.

The wrestling “superfight,” as UFC officials are billing it, is part of the UFC International Fight Week festivities in Las Vegas that accompany UFC 175 on July 5 and The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale on July 6.

July 5th I am gonna pin @ChrisPendleton9 ! And then I am gonna take him on a date to @ufc 175 lol.—
Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) June 19, 2014

Cormier’s knee injury, which includes a lateral collateral ligament (LCL) tear and malformed anterior cruciate ligament (ALC), was detected prior to a UFC 173 victory over Dan Henderson this past month. It moved “DC” to 15-0 overall and 4-0 in the UFC, including 2-0 since his move from heavyweight to light heavyweight.

Jones is ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings. Gustafsson is No. 2, and Cormier is No. 3.

Although a time table hasn’t been set for Cormier’s recovery, he hopes to meet the Jones-Gustafsson winner in early 2015.

And for more on UFC 175 and UFC 178, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.