Alexander Gustafsson reveals shoulder surgery on Instagram

Alexander Gustafsson is in recovery mode.

The UFC light heavyweight contender on Monday shared an update regarding his health on Instagram, stating he had surgery on his shoulder and is now rehabbing.

UPDATE! Op done ? Got my shoulder fixed, feel great, been 3 month with a plate keeping my collarbone in place! Now rehab and slowly getting back in 100% training! Can’t wait to get back to the octagon ??

A post shared by Alex The Mauler Gustafsson (@alexthemauler) on Nov 27, 2017 at 3:05am PST

Op done ? Got my shoulder fixed, feel great, been 3 month with a plate keeping my collarbone in place! Now rehab and slowly getting back in 100% training! Can’t wait to get back to the octagon ??

Gustafsson (18-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) fought just once this year, battering Glover Teixiera into the fifth round before scoring a knockout victory in June at UFC Fight Night 109. It was Gustafsson’s first fight after a nearly nine-month layoff following back surgery in October 2016.

Gustafsson, No. 1 in the official UFC light heavyweight rankings, said last month that he planned on waiting to fight the winner of the presumed title fight between champ Daniel Cormier  (19-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) and Volkan Oezdemir (15-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC).

Cormier-Oezdemir has been targeted for Jan. 20 at UFC 220 in Boston, although Oezdemir’s arrest earlier this month for an alleged battery stemming from a “bar room altercation” in Florida has left the potential booking in limbo. The UFC, which has stated its looking into the case, has yet to determine if it will punish Oezdemir.

If the UFC did decide to scrap Oezdemir from its title-fight plans, Gustafsson likely would’ve been the choice to replace him for a rematch with Cormier. “The Mauler’s” revelation of surgery, however, takes him out of the running depending on how soon Cormier wants to defend the title after being reinstated as champion once Jon Jones failed a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency drug test.

Gustafsson and Cormier fought a five-round war in Oct. 2015 at UFC 192, with Cormier retaining his belt via split decision in the “Fight of the Night.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.