It looks like Anthony Johnson may get his wish after all. Alexander Gustafsson has changed his mind and is now open to a fight with "Rumble," which would likely determine the top contender for the UFC light heavyweight championship.
Anthony Johnson Fires Back at Alistair Overeem on Twitter
Johnson has been asking for this fight for the past few weeks, calling out Gustafsson on social media. The Swede initially refuted the up-and-coming contender, saying he needed a few more wins before they could face each other in the octagon. But "The Mauler" has since softened his stance and has accepted Johnson's challenge.
"Anthony Johnson, there is no one hiding from anyone here," Gustafsson posted on Mikz. "We are both professional fighters and fighting is what we do for living. I know it is frustrating not getting response when you are challenging someone, therefore, I will not turn you down. I will be fully recovered within a couple of weeks so anytime in January and forward I will be ready to fight you.
Alexander Gustafsson Responds to Anthony Johnson
"Now it is up to the UFC to put this fight together. I can't wait to sign the bout agreement my friend and show you what Battlefield feels like."
Johnson then responded on Facebook, thanking Gustafsson for agreeing to the fight:
Gustafsson was originally supposed to challenge Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title on Sept. 27 at UFC 178, but he tore his meniscus in July and had to pull out of the fight. He was replaced by Daniel Cormier, who sparked an intense rivalry with Jones and drew heavy media attention after he and the champion brawled in a hotel lobby after a pre-fight press conference.
Jones then tore his meniscus in August and had to delay his title defense until January. Instead of reinserting Gustafsson into the title bout the UFC chose to keep the fight with Cormier, which did not sit well with the Swede. He threatened to sit out until he gets his title shot, but then he claimed he was promised the winner of Jones vs. Cormier and said he'd be willing to take a fight in the meantime.
If this fight is made, it's possible Johnson and Gustafsson will face off at UFC 182 om Jan. 3, the same night Jones will defend his title against Cormier.
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