"Hi guys, thanks for all the support and all the messages. It means a lot to me. I got an knee injury; it's not very serious, but I need to take care of it. It's a small issue that's been with me and it's not a long recovery time ... a few weeks. I'm disappointed, I really wanted to fight at (UFC) 178, but I can't. I will watch it for sure. It's a great card. We have a UFC event here in Sweden in Stockholm for October. I will be there watching and supporting all of my guys that are fighting. That's about it, thanks again for everything and I'm going to come back much stronger."
A "disappointed" Alexander Gustafsson took to his Facebook page recently to send out a video message to all his fans and supporters, thanking them for the well wishes after he suffered an untimely knee injury during training.
One that forced him out of his UFC 178 Light Heavyweight title fight against champion Jon Jones.
Even though "The Mauler" reveals the injury isn't too serious and only expects out a few weeks, it wouldn't have been enough time for him to get ready and be at full health to be able to rematch "Bones" in "Sin City."
It's an unfortunate setback that halted his much-anticipated re-run against the long-time reigning 205-pound champion, who he nearly dethroned one year ago at UFC 165. It's a highly-anticipated rematch that proved to be easier said than done as far as actually getting it booked.
Stepping in to replace the towering Swede will be none other than Daniel Cormier -- another man who has had it out for Jones -- and who has also been dealing with knee issues of his own. Issues that Jones would be wise to take advantage of, according to "DC" himself.
Still, Cormier's bum knee wasn't so serious that to prevent him from accepting the main event title fight.
As for Gustafsson, he'll be one interested observer come Sept. 27, 2014, because he will face the winner of the championship showdown sometime in early 2015.