Sorry Bader, Gustafsson to get first crack at DC’s strap

After their post-fight exchange following UFC 187, it appeared that new UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier (16-1) and Ryan Bader were destined to trade more than just words somewhere in an arena near someone sometime soon. While it may have been what both men wanted – the UFC wasn’t just going to let DC and Bader book their own fight.

Instead, Swedish sensation Alexander Gustafsson (16-3) will be the first man to get a crack at Cormier since the U.S. Olympian won the title that was stripped from the record setting 8-time defending champion Jon Jones back on April 28th.

The last time we saw Gustafsson he was eliminated by Anthony Johnson via TKO in front of his home crowd in Stockholm. That fight would’ve gotten him the rematch everyone has been waiting for since he came up on the short end of the stick against Jones back at UFC 165 – a fight that earned both men FOTY honors on most major websites back in 2013.

Instead, things haven’t exactly been working out in either mans favor since they made magic together in Toronto. Just like Cormier though, “The Mauler” will be given a second chance at a date TBD when he takes on Cormier in an attempt to become the 14th UFC light heavyweight champion in the history of the sport.

UPDATED: This fight will headline UFC 191 on September 5th inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada