Daniel Cormier became a two division UFC champion at UFC 226, defeating Stipe Miocic to become the UFC Heavyweight Champion.
DC may defend the 205 pound strap before defending the heavyweight gold against Brock Lesnar next year and Cormier would like that title defense to come against former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio Rua.
“I think (Rua) might be on a longer win streak than Gustafsson if he wins his next fight, so why doesn’t he deserve it?” Cormier said on MMA Junkie Radio. “He’s a former champion. He would be in the running, too. (Alexander) Gustafsson needs to do something very spectacular to get that title shot.”
Rua is slated to fight Anthony Smith in the main event of UFC Fight Night Hamburg, a win for Rua would be his fourth straight under the UFC banner.
Cormier may get criticized for wanting to defend the gold against Rua, but DC sees no problem facing a legend like Shogun.
“This guy’s a living legend, a champion and one of the greatest fighters of all time,” Cormier said. “That is one guy at 205 that I would fight.”
The former light heavyweight champion sits at #6 in the UFC Light Heavyweight Division rankings, with three of the six fighters ahead of him not yet receiving a title shot of their own.
