On Friday, the UFC announced that Daniel Cormier would be returning to the heavyweight division at UFC 226 to challenge Stipe Miocic for the title in only the third ever champion-vs.-champion superfight. It’s a fight that has been well-received by almost everyone, including Cormier’s longtime friend and former two-time heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. But there’s one person who isn’t happy about the fight: No. 1 light heavyweight contender, Alexander Gustafsson.

When the fight was first announced, Gustafsson took to social media, urging Cormier to “stop running and fight me,” and yesterday, Gustafsson re-emerged on Twitter to throw shade at Cormier for getting knocked out by Jon Jones last year.

“DC, u talk about the blachowicz fight?! What about when “someone” predicted the left kick and still u fell for it. . .” Gustafsson tweeted.

Cormier lost his light heavyweight title to Jones at UFC 214 when Jones stopped him with a third-round head kick and punches. Later, it was revealed Jones failed a USADA drug test for the event and the result was overturned to a No Contest and Cormier was given the title back. Cormier then rebounded with a second-round stoppage of Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 220.

Meanwhile, Gustafsson has won back-to-back fights since losing a close split decision to Cormier at UFC 192, taking a unanimous decision over Jan Blachowicz and knocking out Glover Teixeira. Gustafsson was presumed to be next in line for a light heavyweight title shot but had been making less noise about a Cormier fight than other contenders like Oezdemir or Jimi Manuwa, a fact Cormier pointed out as to why Gustafsson needs to “chill.”

“Damn Alex, like that? Too late bud, this the shit you should have been saying before the fight was made. Now chill before I beat ur face in again pretty boy!” tweeted Cormier.

There isn’t much time left for that though as Cormier has made it clear that he will definitely retire from MMA by March 20 of next year. He’s hoping to have three more fights before then and with Miocic now taking one of those fights, Gustafsson is looking to claim one of the remaining Cormier bouts afterwards

“U r the one talking fights here! I’m gonna be ur retirement fight not Stipe I’ll wait.. can’t wait to take u down again.. and again..” tweeted Gustafsson.

And Cormier seems amenable to the idea. When he called in to The MMA Hour earlier this week, the light heavyweight champion addressed the Gustafsson situation, saying he would be happy to fight him after the Miocic fight, but that this was too big of a fight to pass up on.

“I’ll go fight him and rematch him afterwards, but this opportunity is way too big for me to pass up for a rematch with Alexander Gustafsson.”

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MUST-READ STORIES

Retirement? Michael Bisping announces he will not fight at UFC London.

WWE. Cris Cyborg reacts to Ronda Rousey signing with the WWE.

Ego. Eddie Alvarez thinks Nate Diaz’s ego won’t let him say he’ll only fight Conor McGregor.

Fight. Stipe Miocic believes he matches up well with Daniel Cormier.

Respect. Paul Daley feels disrespected by Bellator and still wants to be released from his contract.

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VIDEO STEW

Nice KO.

Watch Volkan and Rumble spar.

Mitrione with all the confidence in the world.

Weidman visits his old high school.

Chael on the biggest news.

The most important analysis for a fight like this, body language.

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LISTEN UP

The MMA After Hour. Ric’s Picks and Fan Q&A with Ariel Helwani.

Obviously Fight Talk. Recapping UFC Charlotte and celebrating episode 100.

The MMA Circus. UFC Charlotte recap and UFC Belem preview.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Floyd just baiting everyone.

Sick burn.

Dana is salivating at the thought.

This guy is more likely to jump over and that’s still never gonna happen.

MMA is wild right now.

Bisping saying he’s out.

Nice work.

He back.

Kavanagh says Till will fight Gunni later this year.

Congrats.

Anderson at the Black Panther premiere.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nick Newell (13-1) vs. Sonny Luque (8-6); LFA 35, March 9.

Sabina Mazo (4-0) vs. Silvana Juarez (6-1); LFA 35, March 9.

Anthony Pettis (20-7) vs. Michael Chiesa (14-3); UFC 223, April 7.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2004: B.J. Penn upset Matt Hughes to become the UFC welterweight champion at UFC 46. Also that evening, Vitor Belfort won the light heavyweight title from Randy Couture when a cut opened up on Couture’s eye, causing a doctor’s stoppage just 54 seconds into the fight.

This event also featured the UFC debut of Georges St-Pierre, who won a unanimous decision over Karo Parisyan.

2009: The first ever Champion vs. Champion fight took place in the UFC, with Georges St-Pierre stopping B.J. Penn to retain his welterweight title at UFC 94.

2015: At UFC 183, Anderson Silva won a unanimous decision over Nick Diaz that was later overturned to a No Contest due to failed drug tests.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Take it easy and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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