Alexander Gustafsson – image via UFC.com
Unsubstantiated reports of a hand injury to UFC light heavyweight Alexander ‘The Mauler’ Gustafsson have proven to be false, as the fighter waved off the rumor earlier today with MMAjunkie.com Radio.
A Facebook post from former champ Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua had stated that Gustafsson had been out with a broken hand and was not expected to return till October. Rua posted the note listing off opponents who were not eligible to fight him after his original opponent, Thiago Silva, withdrew from their UFC 149 bout due to injury.
Gustafsson noted that he’s hoping to return later this summer and is waiting for a call from UFC matchmaker Joe Silva for his next matchup.
“I hope I can fight the end of the summer or somewhere around there …”
“(But I have) no idea what the UFC will do. I take it one fight at a time, and I don’t what the UFC has planned for me. I don’t know what the plans look like. Hopefully I’ll fight somewhere around that time, though.”
Check out our original post below from earlier today.
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UFC light heavyweight Alexander ‘The Mauler’ Gustafsson (14-1) will not be available to return to the Octagon until this October due to a broken hand, this according to former UFC champ Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua who posted the news on Facebook recently.
Rua was discussing available possible opponents for his upcoming UFC 149 appearance in Calgary, Alberta after his original opponent, Thiago Silva, was forced to withdraw due to injury.
The original message was posted by ‘Shogun’ on his Facebook.com/MauricioRua.Shogun in Portuguese, and was re-posted by BloodyElbow.com with an English translation Monday night.
The name Rashad Evans has been talked about but he is injured. Same goes for Minotouro. Gustafsson was another option but it seems like he has a broken hand and will only be back in October. For us the only options left at the time are Phil Davis, who is fighting Wagner Caldeirão in August, and Ryan Bader, who is fighting Lyoto in the same event. But I still believe these fights can be rearranged. UFC 149 is pay-per-view and the one on Aug. 4th is open TV in the US.
Gustafsson was was actually in the cage versus Silva for the Brazilian’s last bout, earning a unanimous decision at UFC on FUEL TV 2 in Sweden. It was ‘The Mauler’s’ fifth straight victory inside the Octagon putting his record at 6-1 with the top promotion.