Dana White Raises Stakes for Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and Alexander Gustafsson

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While a lightweight championship affair headlines the Octagon’s final FOX card of 2012, UFC president Dana White has just placed title implications on Saturday’s co-featured attraction between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Alexander Gustafsson.

According to White, the victor of the pivotal shootout will get next dibs at the 205-pound crown.

“Unless there’s some crazy [expletive] that happens, which always does,” White stated during Thursday’s pre-fight press conference. “Other than that, the winner of this fight will get the next shot.”

Being the UFC’s former 205-pound king, Shogun has already been there and done that. However, Gustafsson has been chomping at the bit for a chance to hoist the hardware.

In fact, the 25-year-old proclaimed last week that an impressive victory over Shogun should warrant a championship bout.

I’m curious to know what top contenders Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida think about White’s latest proclamation…

Jones will defend his crown against Chael Sonnen on April 27th.

Shogun and Gustafsson collide Saturday inside Key Arena in Seattle, Washington.