The moment Daniel Cormier strapped the UFC light heavyweight title around his waist, the speculation started on who would be the first challenger to his championship.
Most want to see Cormier rematch with the man who was stripped of the title, Jon Jones. But with Jones’ ongoing legal situation, that meeting could be a long way off.
Cormier, for his part, seemed eager to tangle with Ryan Bader. The two got into a shouting match during the UFC 187 post-fight press conference, after Cormier defeated Anthony Johnson for the vacant belt.
Wednesday, though, UFC president Dana White threw the new champ a curveball.
“We’re actually looking at possibly Alexander Gustafsson,” White said on UFC Tonight.
Gustafsson (16-3), who gave Jones the closest fight of his four-year title reign back at UFC 165, lost a first-round TKO to Johnson in his last bout, in January. He currently has no fight officially scheduled.