Daniel Cormier says a bout with Alexander Gustafsson makes sense

Daniel Cormier is trying to figure out how to get back into the title hunt, and his answer just might be Alexander Gustafsson. The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner is coming off a unanimous decision loss to champion Jon Jones, and Gustafsson was stopped in the first round by Anthony Johnson last weekend. Johnson will now fight Jones for the title, but what happens after that? Cormier talked Gustafsson on The MMA Hour this week and pointed out that it's basically down to him, Gus, and Rashad Evans:

"He's got the biggest name. We're both coming off of a loss. So it would make sense. If that's the case, if they say Daniel, you and Alexander fight, and the winner will get a title shot against Anthony or Jon, then, yes."

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"It needs to be guy with name recognition. So where the people say, ‘OK, Daniel beat this guy, we need to see him either fight for the championship again, or he's very close. Because to me Alexander and I, realistically, are two guys who could fight for the belt. Once you get past us, and Rashad, they're all rematches. past them who you going to put in the cage with Jon?"

"Maybe the golden ticket is Gustafsson," he said. "Because if Rashad gets Gustafsson, maybe Rashad gets the title shot."

Realistically, he's right. There's a pretty big drop off after the top five, so if Jones defeats Johnson and stays at light heavyweight, his next opponent is likely a rematch. A win over Gustafsson puts him right back into that spot. Would the UFC book either him or Rashad against Cormier at this point? It seems pretty likely.