Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans is gearing up for an early-2015 return to the octagon, and he already has an opponent in mind.

Evans (19-3-1 MMA, 14-3-1 UFC) is gunning for a fight of significance at 205 pounds, and few names currently carry more weight in the division than Alexander Gustafsson (16-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC).

Gustafsson originally was scheduled to challenge light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones for the belt at UFC 178 this past weekend. However, “The Mauler” suffered a knee injury in training and was replaced by Daniel Cormier.

Not long after the replacement fight was made, though, Jones suffered a knee injury of his own. He required surgery to fix the damage, postponing the matchup with Cormier until UFC 182 on Jan. 3.

Despite the postponement, UFC officials decided to stick with the Jones-Cormier matchup, which left Gustafsson as the odd man out of the title picture.

The Swede apparently was lined for a No. 1 contender showdown with Anthony Johnson in December, but “Rumble” was pulled from the contest due to an indefinite suspension that currently has his career on ice.

Whether or not Gustafsson will receive a new opponent or wait for the Jones-Cormier winner remains to be seen. If he’s booked for a fight, though, Evans wants to be the one on the other side of the octagon.

“I’ve been very impressed with how his development has gone,” Evans said on FOX Sports 1’s post-UFC 178 show. “I would definitely like to fight him when I return. Definitely.”

Injuries have kept “Suga” out of action since he stopped Chael Sonnen in the first round at UFC 167 in November 2013. “The Ultimate Fighter 2” winner said he’s nearing 100 percent, though, and wants to prove he is still one of the top competitors in his weight class.

If all goes according to plan, Evans will grace the octagon sometime in the first quarter of 2015. That will mean more than a year between fights, and while Evans has fallen out of the forefront of the title picture, the 35-year-old said he wants to prove he’s still a relevant factor in the light heavyweight division.

A victory over an opponent of Gustafsson’s stature would potentially put Evans in line for that opportunity.

“When I left, I was at the top and Alexander Gustafsson has been getting better with every single fight,” Evans said. “Dana (White), set it up.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Rashad Evans)