Did Alexander Gustafsson just give Daniel Cormier a taste of his own medicine?
At the “Go Big” press conference Friday in Las Vegas, Cormier poked fun at Gustafsson’s résumé by sarcastically saying fans should focus on all of his big wins rather than his loss to Jon Jones. Cormier, the UFC light heavyweight champion, couldn’t produce the names of any great opponents Gustafsson had beaten while elaborating.
“If I was Alexander Gustafsson, honestly, I would probably be a little upset at you guys, because you always talk about how close he fought Jon Jones,” Cormier said sarcastically. “What about his Earth-shattering win over Jimi Manuwa or his, uhh, monumental win that was … do you know? I mean really, somebody else. You guys talk about a fight that he lost. He lost. Let’s stop talking about the fight that he lost and talk about something that this guy has done positive. And when you look at it that way, you guys know exactly what’s going to happen on Oct. 3. He’s going to lose to me.
“When you look at it objectively and not because he fought a guy closer than I fought him, you realize what’s going to happen on Oct. 3. Out of respect for Alexander, please talk about some of these Earth-shattering wins that he has over the course of his career.”
Gustafsson took to Facebook on Tuesday to respond to his opponent in the main event of UFC 192 on Oct. 3 in Houston. Gustafsson’s take? Cormier was “right.”
“DC is a very loving and humble person and he says what he truly believes,” Gustafsson wrote. “This will be a test for me, to meet the Champion in LHW division, the rightful Champion without question and one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world??!??!”
Cormier (16-1) won the vacant title against Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 in May after Jones was suspended and stripped of the belt following a felony hit-and-run arrest. Jones beat Cormier via unanimous decision at UFC 182 back in January.
Gustafsson then seemed to poke fun at Cormier’s weight cut.
“I know have to work hard and be in excellent shape as DC is all year around,” Gustafsson said. “Right now I believe my weight is good 1 month before the fight, I used a nutritionist, so my weight cut could be as easy as DCs, I will not give him any advantage there.”
Gustafsson (16-3) is not one to be facetious. But the big Swede did at least feel like a response to Cormier was warranted. In three weeks, none of the words will matter anymore regardless.
“With all of this said and no matter what DC thinks or believes, I will take that belt on October 3rd and once I have that belt, I hope you all stop talking how close I was getting it from Jon Jones and instead talk about my Earth-shattering win over Daniel Cormier for as long as you guys want,” Gustafsson wrote.
Check out the full Facebook post here:
A lot of media and you fans have asked what I think about DCs comment on the UFC GoBig press-conference? You know, I…
Posted by Alexander Gustafsson on Wednesday, September 9, 2015