Alexander Gustafsson

By FCF Staff

Not long before he’s booked to challenge Daniel Cormier for the UFC’s light-heavyweight title, Alexander Gustafsson has called for the promotion to compensate its fighters more.

Gustafsson is scheduled to fight Cormier in the main event of UFC 192, which will take place on October 3rd Houston, Texas. Recently the Swedish star spoke with MMA Junkie.com, and when asked what he would do if he was UFC President, Gustafsson stated:

“Pay the fighters a lot more money,” Gustafsson said. “For all the hard work and the sacrifices fighters generally do to fight, I think they’re a little bit underpaid. The same thing with the Reebok deal, too. I don’t have anything negative to say about it. I just think, why take away from fighters who haven’t established themselves in the organization? They have a hard time already, so why take away the small sponsors so they can pay the rent and pay their bills? Why take that away too? Really squeezing that last money from the fighters that haven’t been established yet. I think it’s sad to see.”

The UFC’s Reebok uniform deal prohibits fighters on the roster from wearing other sponsors and advertising during fight week.

Gustafsson is coming off a stoppage loss to Anthony Johnson in January, after submitting Jimi Manuwa last March. “The Mauler” was scheduled to rematch Jon Jones last fall, but a knee injury forced him to withdraw. The two battled for the first time in September, 2013, and Jones won the thrilling bout via unanimous decision.