Gustafsson eyeing quick return to Octagon at UFC London

Alexander Gustafsson is pushing for a speedy return to the Octagon following his defeat to Jon Jones at UFC 232.

The 31-year-old Swede was thoroughly outstruck in the light heavyweight championship tilt, eventually succumbing to strikes at 2:02 of round three.

However, the “Mauler” is apparently ready for a quick turnaround, taking to social media to name his preferred opponent and date.

Gus targets top prospect Corey Anderson

Gustafsson is eyeing a matchup with top 205lb contender Corey Anderson at UFC London on March 16. Anderson is riding high on a three-win streak, having beaten Gus’s compatriot Ilir Latifi on the undercard of UFC 232.

“Everyone else at the top is taken,” Gustafsson wrote to the Illinois native on Instagram, “I am eager to get right back inside the cage… let’s dance.”

Anderson a credible, yet not unbeatable, opponent

Having fought just three times in the past three years, it is little surprise the Swede is eager to return to action at the earliest opportunity. Anderson would prove a challenging yet not unbeatable opponent, with the accomplished wrestler having beaten Glover Texeira and Patrick Cummins prior to his UFC 232 victory.

Prior to that, however, he dropped back-to-back knockout losses to Jimi Manuwa and Ovince Saint Preux.

A win over Anderson would help Gustafsson on what must be a long quest to fight his way back into title contention, having fallen three times at the final hurdle inside the Octagon.

UFC London, set to be held at the O2 Arena, is shaping up to be a key event for the light heavyweight division. Bouts between  Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes, as well as Gokhan Saki and Saparbeg Safarov, have been announced, although no main event has yet been confirmed.