Part two of the new era of UFC begins on Oct. 3, as Daniel Cormier (16-1) faces Alexander Gustafsson (16-3) for the light heavyweight title, in the first title match since the implementation of not only random drug testing, but the banning of IV use to rehydrate after weigh-ins.



For Cormier, it's a return to a life he lived years ago, and he sees the changes as an overall positive.



"I've been through all the USADA stuff," said Cormier, who competed for years on the U.S. national wrestling team. "I've always competed with what God gave me. I think most fighters are happy with it, except the guys who have been cheating."



While that got a lot of headlines, the banning of IVs also changes the game somewhat. For Cormier, it means he's had to work even harder at getting his weight down, He's planning on being seven or eight pounds lighter in natural body weight for this fight so as not have to make such a drastic cut.



"We're the first ones after it goes into effect on Oct. 1," Cormier said about the IV ban. "We're the guinea pigs. So we'll see how much it changes things."



Cormier's girth and eating habits were such that he was able to make fun of himself in January doing an hilarious music video of the song "All About That Bass" at the MMA Awards show, called "I'm All About that Cake." Formerly known for midnight pizza and Popeye's chicken, he's traded that in for a meals of grilled chicken and cucumbers, and two gallons of water daily.



"I have a great nutrition coach, Don Leith, using a program from Fit TV," he said. "I'm working with George Lockhart, an expert in rehydration. He worked with Kenny Florian to get him down to 145, and he's working with Cris Cyborg right now."



A week-and-a-half before fight time, Cormier is noticeably leaner and more muscular than at the same period before previous fights. He's facing a challenger who, at 6-foot-5, is slightly taller and has about the same reach as Jon Jones. Jones is not only the only fighter Cormier has lost to, but he's the only fighter Cormier has ever had more than brief moments of trouble with.



"I'm usually 226 on Thursday (two days before the fight), so I'm way ahead of schedule right now," he said. "I expect to be 218, 219 next Thursday, and then lose 15 pounds. Most people do their cutting on Friday. I cut on Thursday so Friday is smooth."



Cormier first decided to move to light heavyweight after an undefeated run as a heavyweight, for a couple of reasons. First, his training partner, Cain Velasquez, was heavyweight champion and he had no intention of fighting him. Second, he had a natural rival at 205 in Jones.



But there were significant mental questions. At the 2008 Olympics, where he was considered a strong medal threat, while cutting weight before the competition his kidneys shut down and he wound up in the hospital, watching four years of training since a fourth place finish in 2004 go down the drain. His Olympic weight was 211.5 pounds, 6.5 pounds more than what he'd have to make to be a light heavyweight fighter.



But he's far more disciplined with his dieting and felt the Johnson fight really proved it. He was training for a June 6 fight with Ryan Bader, so that was the date he was looking to hit 206 and to peak his conditioning for. Then, suddenly, Jones was out of the fight with Johnson and stripped of the title. Cormier got the call to face Johnson two weeks earlier than scheduled. But he still made one pound less weight and competed well with less time in camp.



In hindsight, he felt he peaked three weeks early with Jones. With Johnson, circumstances of the late date change made it impossible to peak, but he performed well. In this fight, he's hoping he's gotten the peaking down.



Another change that he says is significant is having Cain Velasquez and Luke Rockhold around his entire camp. Velasquez was recovering from knee surgery when Cormier was getting ready for Jones.



"I had Liam McGeary and King Mo, so I had help for Jones, but it's just a difference, big time, because nobody can push me like Cain can push me."



He noted Rockhold is around every day. Velasquez is there pushing him both on his cardio, and working with him regularly on 7 a.m. weightlifting sessions. He also notes another key training partner for this fight is Ruslan Magomedov, a 260-pound heavyweight who is preparing to face Shawn Jordan on the same night. Magomedov is almost as tall as Gustafsson, and physically stronger.



"He's 6-4 1/2, about the same size as Gustafsson, and bigger and stronger so I'm used to that size."



The moment the Jones fight started, the difference in height and reach was more than noticeable. But Cormier said that there were things he can take out of that fight. The key was that he was able to get inside against Jones and somewhat negate the reach aspect. But being in close makes him more susceptible to knees, a Gustafsson specialty. Gustafsson proved with Jones that he's no slouch in the wrestling department, as he took Jones down and did well in defending Jones' takedowns, better than any previous Jones opponent.



Cormier does feel Gustafsson is overrated. He's getting the title shot coming off a knockout loss to Anthony "Rumble" Johnson, who Cormier finished to win the title vacated when Jones was stripped of it after his latest arrest.



"I know Rashad (Evans), he wanted to fight Gustafsson. (Ryan) Bader, he wanted to fight Gustafsson. It's what I said, Gustafsson's biggest claim to fame is that on his best day, he almost beat Jon Jones. His biggest win is Shogun Rua. A lot of the guys think Gustafsson is a myth that UFC created from the Jon Jones fight and that the fans believe it."



But he does concede that Gustafsson is a threat.



"He's improved greatly in his wrestling, he's got good striking and excellent footwork," he said. "Plus, he's going to be much better coming off a loss."



Still, Cormier said he was just as surprised as everyone when he found out he was facing Gustafsson for the title.



"I was surprised," he said. "I still want to beat up Bader for what happened (an incident where he and Bader got into a shouting match at the press conference after his win over Johnson). But when I got the word, I was kind of happy. I wanted to fight Alexander Gustafsson."



He also has the home field advantage with the fight taking place at the Toyota Center in Houston. He grew up in Lafayette, La., but Houston was where his family went on vacation.



Cormier points out that while it's important to promote a fight, he believes what he says when he's doing it.



"The last time, I pointed out that Rumble Johnson had lost by choke to Josh Koscheck and Vitor Belfort. And what happened?"



Cormier beat Johnson on May 23 to capture the light heavyweight title via third round choke. But to many, winning that title was a no-win situation because Jones was so dominant as champion, and had beaten Cormier in his last fight before being stripped. Cormier said he completely understands why fans some would feel that he's not the true champion, But he also doesn't think it makes sense to take it out on him, or not like him, because it wasn't his decision, and his job was to beat Johnson.



"I know people resent that, but they have to know that it wasn't my decision," he said about Jones being stripped of the title.



Cormier is one of the most likeable athletes you'll ever meet, and highly respected by his peers. He was voted team captain of the 2008 Olympic wrestling team, and is now the team captain at AKA in San Jose. But he knows in this day and age, you are always going to have people who don't like you, particularly in wearing a belt that arguably the most talented fighter in the history of the sport held and never lost in competition.



He has recognized that in 2015, when you are trying to build up a name and promoting fights, you can't make everyone like you.



"A lot of people are afraid to promote because when you do, some people will like you and some people won't," he said. "A lot of people are afraid because they don't want anyone to not like them. But it's just not going to happen."



"I don't care if you like me or don't like me now," he said. "I just have to get you to pay attention. It's hard for some people. Some people don't want people not to like them. But you learn. And it makes the difference in this sport between who makes money and who complains about not making money. But it's hard. Because you try to do things right. I'm a nice guy. You don't see me going out and partying. I love my fiance and my family. I'm not going to be caught with condoms in my car. I coach kids wrestling for free. I try and treat people well."



The ghost of Jones hovers over every title fight, but at this point Cormier doesn't want Jones to occupy his head space. "We're in a good place," he said leading up to this fight.



With Jones, he feels that his personal feelings worked against him. And with Johnson, while he had no personal animosity, he felt his back was against the wall because it was a fight he couldn't afford to lose.



"There's less pressure than ever before," he said. "I put so much pressure on myself with Jon Jones. It was so big of an event. It was two undefeated guys going for the championship. Then, with Rumble Johnson, I thought before that fight that if I lost, I may never get another title shot. But now, I'm happy. I'm nervous, but I'm always nervous before competition."



He came out of the Olympics broke when he began training for MMA in 2009. At that point there was pressure to succeed. Six years later he's achieved the world championship goal that eluded him in wrestling. But age is always an issue when a fighter passes 35.



"I'm 36, I'll be 37 in March. I don't think about retirement. I like doing this for the older guys. I have a job after this as an announcer. I can wear an expensive suit and eat. I can spend more time with my family. I won't have to wake up at 6:30 a.m. and drive 30 minutes to lift weights. I won't have to cut weight. If I start thinking about it, life after fighting isn't that bad, but I still love to compete."