Alexander Gustafsson has fanned the flames of a potential bout against Anthony Johnson in early 2015.
Dear fans and Anthony Johnson, I got some news for you and for the UFC. I hope this is what you have… http://t.co/hTMFhJihdu
— Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) September 4, 2014
Gustafsson was set to challenge Jon Jones for the light heavyweight belt, but an injury forced him out of the fight. Daniel Cormier stepped in to claim his spot, and Cormier will meet Jones at UFC 181 for the gold.
That leaves Gustafsson on the outside looking in.
Johnson already called out Gustafsson for a bout, and now Gustafsson responded on the Mikz app (download required). Gustafsson said that he will be ready for the fight “anytime in January.”
It would seem to make sense as a co-main event to the UFC 181 pay-per-view, as the two winners of the bouts would be set up for a title match later in 2015, but there is no current indication of when, or if, this bout will take place.
Gustafsson is the No. 1-ranked contender in the division. The 16-2 fighter is 8-2 under the UFC banner. His lone loss in the past four years has been to Jones by a contentious decision. He was the first fighter to put Jones in trouble.
Johnson was a former welterweight in the UFC, but multiple weight issues led to him being let go following a loss to Vitor Belfort in 2012. He began to make waves outside the UFC by going 6-0 in fights in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.
The American returned to the UFC in April with a dominant victory over top-five ranked Phil Davis. Now, Johnson finds himself as the No. 5-ranked contender to the light heavyweight title.
Gustafsson and Johnson want this fight, and it makes the most sense in the division. Bleacher Report will keep you up to date when the UFC moves forward with making this fight official for early 2015.
