Gustafsson: If I need to move up to heavyweight to face Cormier, I will

Number-one ranked UFC light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson has been calling for his chance for another crack at Daniel Cormier. It is a fight he has been wanting way before “DC” became the company’s second double-champion.

“The Mauler” is not included in Cormier’s immediate future plans as far as the light heavyweight title goes, and this has caused him to grow more frustrated at the situation.

“It’s frustrating because he has something I want. He doesn’t come back down and face me and he’s keeping the belt,” Gustafsson told MMANYTT (transcript via MMA Fighting). “But at the same time, the hunt isn’t over. … I might continue chasing [DC].”

“If I need to move up to heavyweight to face him, I will.”

Cormier himself admitted his own struggles trying to make the 205-pound limit, and how easier it was for him to prepare for his first heavyweight fight in five years against Stipe Miocic at UFC 226. Chael Sonnen is not expecting Cormier to drop back down to light heavyweight, and it is a possibility that Gustafsson is starting to realize.

“It’s funny, it’s clear he doesn’t want to face me,” Gustafsson said. “First of all, he is never coming back down to light heavyweight. He is struggling to stay at heavyweight. DC is a big boy, as tall as he is wide.”

“I don’t think he will go down again. He loves food and loves to eat. To sacrifice so much with dieting and food and then going down to face me? I think I will have to move to heavyweight to get a piece of DC again.”

Despite his frustrations, Gustafsson ultimately holds Cormier in high regard.

“DC is smart and he’s a big inspiration for me. Thirty-nine years old and two belts,” he said. “I can’t really trash the guy and I can’t really have beef with him. I think he’s great in every way, it just sucks that he has my belt. Let’s see how we solve it.”

Gustafsson was originally scheduled to face Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 227 on August 4^th, but aninjury on the latter has led to the scrapping of the said matchup. There’s no word yet on if Gustafsson will remain on the card.