Alexander Gustafsson – image via UFC.com
Swedish light heavyweight Alexander ‘The Mauler’ Gustafsson (15-1) has suffered a bad cut over the eye which required a trip to the hospital to repair.
According to MMANYTT.se, which reported the cut earlier, Swedish MMA Federation president Gorge Sallfeldt has called the fight off following the consultation of three physicians regarding the cut.
Updated: UFC president Dana White spoke to MMAFighting.com on Sunday, telling them that the fight is still on between Gustafsson and Mousasi.
“The [Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation] has not said he can’t fight, and he wants to fight.”
Gustafsson suffered the cut while sparring and will require weeks to heal properly.
‘The Mauler’ is scheduled to face former Strikeforce champ Gegard Mousasi in the main event of UFC on FUEL TV 9 this coming weekend in Sweden.
No official word has come from the UFC regarding the injury.
The event has certainly suffered a major blow to it’s second ever event in Sweden with no solid bout to step in as a replacement if Gustafsson is forced off the card.
Leaving Gustafsson in the main event could force the UFC to pull the bout entirely at the last minute but maybe that is the plan to keep ‘The Mauler’s’ name up on the marquee till the last second.
That’s when the promotion could step in with a last minute replacement for Gustfasson, but with Mousasi having yet to step foot inside the Octagon it will certainly be a hard sell to fans to remain as the main event.
UFC on FUEL TV 9 is scheduled to take place on April 6, 2013 at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.