Corey Anderson turns down Alexander Gustafsson callout

Speaking on Instagram on Monday afternoon, three-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson called for a UFC London fight with streaking contender Corey Anderson.

Both men, to remind, fought at UFC 232, with Gustafsson coming up short to Jon Jones, and Anderson picking up an impressive win over Gustafsson’s training partner Ilir Latifi.

Here’s what Gustafsson had to say:

“Corey everyone else at the top is taken, I am eager to get right back inside the cage and you just had a good fight with my brother, so I think it’s the perfect time for us to throw down,” Gustafsson wrote on Instagram. “Let’s dance on the London card March 16th.”

Unfortunately for Alexander Gustafsson, Corey Anderson is not able to oblige this callout — but he’s got a great reason. He’ll be welcoming his first child just days before UFC London.

Sorry @AlexTheMauler I'm already booked for the biggest fight of my life on March 12th. The birth of my 1st child!!! #letsgo #ufcOTJ #mywifestime #fightluke #UFC #familyovereverything #UFCLondon

— Corey 'Overtime' Anderson (@CoreyA_MMA) January 7, 2019

“Sorry [Alexander Gustafsson],” Anderson wrote on Twitter. “I’m already booked for the biggest fight of my life on March 12th. The birth of my 1st child!!!”

With Corey Anderson unavailable, and other top light heavyweights like Jon Jones, Anthony Smith, Jan Blachowicz, Thiago Santos, Volkan Oezdemir, Dominick Reyes, Misha Cirkunov and Ovince Saint Preux are all currently booked, it’ll certainly be interesting to see who Gustafsson fights next.

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 1/7/2019.