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If you call them out, they don't always come.
Alexander Gustafsson recently called out former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight champion -- and current 205-pound No. 1 contender -- Lyoto Machida to a fight after "The Mauler" eventually got over the "worst week of his life," which was caused after his involuntary withdrawal from the UFC on Fuel TV 9 main event against Gegard Mousasi because of a cut suffered in training.
"The Dragon" and his camp, however, isn't feeling the idea of fight against Gustafsson since Machida is already promised a 205-pound title fight in his next Octagon appearance against the winner of the UFC 159 showdown later this month between reigning division champion Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen.
Machida's manager, Jorge Guimaraes, recently spoke to Brazilian news outlet Lance.net (via Fighters Only), revealing there is zero interest in taking a bout against the Swedish sensation at the moment because it just doesn't make any sense.
His words:
"Lyoto is on stand-by list waiting for the winner of Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen. I think it is almost impossible for Chael to win this bout, but anything may happen. A fight is a fight, but it has already been scheduled, there's no history about it. Lyoto is the number one contender and he is only waiting to see who is going to be the winner of this fight. He is not convinced about Jones ... he is not convinced from that loss. The fight between Jones and Sonnen is going to happen now, it doesn't make sense to fight Alexander. We're almost there. If it were a little before, this fight could have already happened, but he just fought... and Dana White has made it clear that Lyoto is the number one. We'll be waiting."
Machida earned the next title shot against the winner of the UFC 159 main event -- a bout "Bones" doesn't seem too pumped for -- by defeating Dan Henderson in a snoozer at UFC 157 in Feb. 2012.
UFC President Dana White previously stated Gustafsson would be "in line" for a title shot had he defeated Mousasi in Sweden. But, since the bout never came to fruition, perhaps that's the reason "The Mauler" camp wanted to see who the rightful No. 1 contender at light heavyweight really is by challenging "The Dragon."
Machida and Co., however, aren't having it.
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