Daniel Cormier opts for knee surgery, will be ready to fight Jon Jones vs Alexander Gustafsson winner

Daniel Cormier was "unhappy" about the recent knee surgery headlines in the wake of his big win over Dan Henderson at UFC 173 several weeks ago, claiming that he wasn't "putting off" a procedure in anticipation of a potential title fight against division champion Jon Jones.

Alexander Gustafsson ultimately got the nod, even though "Bones" feels Cormier is more deserving of the opportunity (watch his explanation here). Nonetheless, with Jones booked and his knee still in need of repair, Cormier has indeed opted to undergo a procedure next month.

However, not before Cormier locks horns with two-time NCAA champion and United States national team member, Chris Pendleton, in a wrestling exhibition match planned for the "Fan Expo" on UFC 175 weekend (Sat., July 5, 2014) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ariel Helwani on "UFC Tonight" has the scoop:

"Daniel Cormier will have surgery in early July. On morning of UFC 175, he'll be competing in a final amateur wrestling match at the UFC Fan Expo. After that match, he'll go under the knife and will be ready for the winner of Jones vs. Gustafsson."

Jones and Gustafsson are set to rematch at UFC 178, which takes place inside Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Sept. 27, 2014. Cormier, who injured his lateral collateral ligament (LCL) several days ahead of the Henderson fight, expects to be ready to challenge the winner in early 2015.

That timeline would suggest that Cormier does not require a full reconstruction vis-a-vis a quick healer like Georges St. Pierre, who returned from full-blown anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery in about one year.