Alexander Gustafsson Withdraws from UFC 227 Due to ‘Minor Injury’

UFC Fight Night 127 is down one marquee fight after former title challenger Alexander Gustafsson bowed out of the event due to a “minor injury.”

MMAjunkie.com first reported Gustafsson’s withdrawal. The news came shortly after Anthony Smith stopped Mauricio Rua in the first round of the UFC Fight Night 134 headliner on Sunday and then volunteered to face the Swede on the Aug. 4 card in Los Angeles. Gustafsson had been previously paired with Volkan Oezdemir, who pulled out of UFC 227 last week due to a broken nose.

Moments Sports Management, which represents Gustafsson, issued a statement regarding the fighter’s withdrawal.

Alex Gustafsson is out of UFC 227 with a minor injury. The injury occurred last week. Since that time, we have been working closely with the UFC doctors, our doctors in Sweden, and the experts at the UFC Performance Institute. We have been advised that Alex has a minor injury, and he will not be permitted to compete at UFC 227. Had Alex been fit to fight, we were prepared to face (Khalil) Rountree or anyone else the UFC had asked us, including (Daniel) Cormier at heavyweight.

“Alex will be fighting again very soon. He will give his side of the story shortly. We don’t care who the opponent is. But whomever we face it should be for the meaningful result of the LHW UFC Title.”

A two-time former title challenger at light heavyweight, “The Mauler” last appeared at UFC Fight Night 109, where he knocked out Glover Teixeira in the fifth round in May 2017.