Former top light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson is still without an opponent for when he returns from injury early next year, but a former champion has thrown his hat into the ring in hopes of facing the Swede.
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'Suga' Rashad Evans, who hasn't fought since November while recovering from injury, said he is close to 100 percent and hopes to face Gustafsson when he returns to the UFC.
"I've been very impressed with how his development has gone," Evans said last Saturday on FOX Sports 1, according to MMAJunkie. "I would definitely like to fight him when I return. Definitely. When I left, I was at the top and Alexander Gustafsson has been getting better with every single fight. Dana (White), set it up."
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Gustafsson was originally supposed to face Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title on Sept. 27 at UFC 178 but a torn meniscus forced him to withdraw from the fight. He was replaced by Daniel Cormier, but Jones then suffered a knee injury and their fight was rescheduled to Jan. 3.
Initially upset at the UFC's decision not to reinsert him into the title bout, Gustafsson threatened to sit out and await the winner but changed his mind after getting called out by Anthony Johnson. The fight was all but finalized until reports surfaced last week that Johnson was allegedly involved in multiple domestic violence incidents in his past and the UFC immediately suspended him indefinitely.
Evans last defeated Chael Sonnen by first-round TKO in November. The former light heavyweight champion was working his way back to a title shot before suffering a leg injury in February. A fight with Gustafsson would likely determine the next contender for the light heavyweight championship.
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