Daniel Cormier: Gustafsson Beat Me Up, He’s One Of The Best In The World
Reigning light heavyweight champion Daniel “DC” Cormier defended his 205-pound title for the very first time last night (October 3, 2015), but it wasn’t easy. Cormier took on Swedish star Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson in the main event of UFC 192 live from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, scoring a hard-fought split-decision victory.
Of course “DC” did what he had to do to keep his title, but he ended up getting dropped at one point, and was battered throughout the bout by the lanky Gustafsson. Speaking at the post-fight press conference, the champion admitted that he was hurt, and that Gustafsson beat him up:
“Everything hurts. You have to be honest. You have to tell the truth: That guy beat me up tonight,” Cormier said.
Coming off of a brutal knockout loss to Anthony “Rumble” Johnson last February, many seemed to be counting “The Mauler” out, and Cormier even seemed to believe that Gustafsson didn’t have the right mindset to fight for a title.
However, it seems as if going five hard, and bloody rounds with the Swede has changed Cormier’s mind:
“Alexander Gustafsson is an absolute stud,” Cormier said. “He’s one of the best fighters in the world. The sport needs guys like Alexander Gustafsson who can go out there and lay it all on the line against the best fighters in the world.”
“DC” has now taken out two of the best in the world in Johnson, and Gustafsson to secure and defend his title, but there still seems to be a dark shadow looming over his title reign in former champion Jon “Bones” Jones.
Jones, and Cormier met at last January’s UFC 182 after months of hype, and bad blood, with Jones ultimately scoring a unanimous decision win. “Bones” was then arrested last April, and stripped of his title, giving Cormier the opportunity to step in.
Last week, however, we received news that Jones would be avoiding jail time, making a possible return to action a strong possibility for the near future.
Has Cormier set himself up for a massive rematch with the former pound-for-pound king?
