Cormier (left) and Gustafsson (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

Following the news that Alexander Gustafsson has withdrawn from next month’s UFC 227 card, Daniel Cormier was quick to criticize the light-heavyweight contender, and “The Mauler’s” team has responded.

Gustafsson was supposed to fight Volkan Oezdemir on August 4th, but the latter had to pull out due to an injury. After Anthony Smith finished “Shogun” Rua yesterday at UFC FN 134, the dangerous fighter said he would fight Gustafsson at UFC 227.

Since then, however, Gustafsson’s manager Nima Safapour reported that the Swedish star is also not eligible to fight, August 4th, due to an injury. That prompted Cormier to post this fiery response.

Dear Alex, I don’t know what happened to you going back to the Rockhold situation. You have always been a stand up guy but your behavior changed. From calling a guy out the day after he got knocked out, to now offering to fight me knowing I have a broken hand, after Volkan couldn’t go. Now you’ve turned down Jan, turned down Khalil all while calling for a heavyweight title fight. Now, moments after Anthony Smith does his work like an animal you decide you’re hurt. Man, I respect you as a fighter. I will always be grateful for October 2015, but you and I won’t share the octagon again. I am disappointed in who you’ve become. You are so entitled, man, I can’t deal with delusional people. Good luck recovering. Our time has passed. See you from the commentary table. DC @alexthemauler #wegoourseparateways

A post shared by Daniel "DC" Cormier (@dc_mma) on Jul 22, 2018 at 5:12pm PDT

Following “DC’s” comments, Gustafsson’s manager followed up with MMA Fighting, and released this statement:

Doctors pulled Alex from the card last Friday. Days before Anthony was to compete. Before that we were trying to stay on the card. Assuming we could get cleared, we were prepared to face anyone. We assumed it would be Rountree as he was ready fight, and we were told Jan would fight at another time. We also offered to fight DC at heavyweight if he was healthy. So Alex was prepared to face anyone, ranked or unranked. But the doctor’s said he was unfit to compete.

It was determined last Friday he would not be on the card. Days before the Smith contest.

Cormier narrowly defeated Gustafsson in 2015 via split decision.