Gustafsson still a bit ‘frustrated’ with Miocic vs. Cormier: DC is ‘just playing it safe’

When the heavyweight super-fight between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier was made official in late January for UFC 226, many were ecstatic with the matchup, to say the least. The same cannot be said, however, for number one 205-pound contender Alexander Gustafsson, who has been vocal about his dissension with the said fight.

A day after it was announced, “The Mauler” even went as far as accusing Cormier of running from him, as he heavily campaigned for a rematch. Almost two months later, the 31-year-old Swede fighter still feels the exact same way.

“I’ve been a little bit frustrated because I was counting on the DC fight,” Gustafsson told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour (transcript via MMA Mania). “Me and him fighting for the belt again, that was my plan, so I’m a little bit frustrated, a little bit disappointed. He knows I’m here and he knows I’m waiting for him.”

Gustafsson also feels that Cormier took the more favorable option since it is looking more like a win-win situation for the current light heavyweight champion.

“It feels like he’s just playing it safe, and he has everything to gain in that fight and nothing to lose,” Gustafsson said of Cormier.

With Cormier’s current plans, it may take a while before Gustafsson gets his third shot at light heavyweight gold, but as of the moment, he could be looking at a possible fight against Luke Rockhold, whom he has been trading barbs with over the past few days.

UFC 226 takes place on July 7^th in Las Vegas for International Fight Week.