Daniel Cormier believes a fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall is an eventual certainty.
For nearly two years, a potential heavyweight title clash between Jones and Aspinall has been a major topic in the MMA world, with minimal progress towards making it happen. While UFC CEO Dana White insists the fight will take place at some point, Jones has become increasingly vague and hesitant about the matchup. Meanwhile, Aspinall is left awaiting his chance to unify the titles. According to Cormier, the delay stems from Jones facing a new reality: he is now the older fighter in the equation.
“Jon is now a 38-year-old fighter looking at a 30-year-old who is bigger, younger, and fresher – the situation has reversed,” Cormier stated on his YouTube channel. “He`s realizing the signs of wear and tear are on him now, not on his opponents. He saw how Stipe Miocic looked older after his time away. Now he sees a young fighter before him, and he seems hesitant.”
“He`s not scared, let`s be clear about that. But I think there`s enough reason for him to pause. And perhaps his biggest worry might be with Aspinall, the potential for being knocked out. A legitimate, lights-out knockout. I just don`t know if he wants that image to exist in the world. He`s knocked out many opponents but has never experienced it himself – and having been knocked out, I know how horrible that visual is every time you see it.”
Jones has never been knocked out in competition; his sole professional loss was infamously by disqualification. Aspinall, conversely, has finished his last three opponents via knockout in a combined duration of just 3 minutes and 22 seconds. This contrast is a significant part of what makes the matchup so compelling for fans – pitting arguably the greatest fighter of all time against potentially his most dangerous challenge yet. However, at this point, fans are beginning to lose hope that the bout will ever happen. Cormier, nevertheless, remains optimistic, suggesting that Jones`s ego alone will prevent him from walking away.
“I don`t think he`ll vacate the title without fighting him,” Cormier said, “because the image and the lasting impression would be that `He ran from him,` and I doubt his ego could handle the idea that he ran from someone. The notion of people thinking he is afraid matters more to him than stepping in there and fighting him and taking the risk. Especially considering there`s a real possibility that he could simply outclass Tom Aspinall.”
“There`s a genuine possibility that he goes out there and dominates Tom Aspinall. You just don`t know how it will play out. That`s why I believe he will fight him. I don`t think they`ll need to strip him; I think he will fight. Even though he could retire and say, `I`m the best, I don`t need to do anything else,` the idea that he ran is going to be too strong an influence for him as he considers the next stage of his career.”
