Former two-weight champion, Daniel Cormier has claimed the UFC is likely trying to protect a perceived “golden goose” – amid the failure to book an undisputed light heavyweight championship fight between Alex Pereira, and surging Russian contender, Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira, the current undisputed light heavyweight champion and a former undisputed middleweight gold holder, most recently managed to successfully defend his divisional crown at UFC 303 at the end of June, laying waste to another former champion, Jiri Prochazka in the pair’s rematch.
And widely linked with a grudge match title defense against former vacant title challenger, Ankalaev in his return to action – which he hopes occurs later this year, the Russian has already been ruled from the sweepstakes to face the Brazilian.