According to Daniel Cormier, the long-awaited heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall is still on the horizon, despite persistent delays and uncertainty.
For nearly two years, the potential clash between the two champions has been a major topic in MMA, yet concrete progress has been minimal. While UFC CEO Dana White insists the fight will eventually happen, Jones has been notably elusive and hesitant regarding the matchup, leaving interim champion Aspinall waiting. Cormier suggests the main reason for this hold-up is Jones grappling with a new reality in his career: he is no longer the young challenger but the veteran.
“Jon is now 38 years old, looking at a 30-year-old who is bigger, younger, and fresher,” Cormier stated on his YouTube channel. “The dynamic has flipped. He`s realizing the wear and tear is on him now, not on the opponent. He saw how Stipe Miocic looked older after time away. Now, facing a young man like Aspinall, there`s hesitation.”
Cormier emphasized that he doesn`t believe Jones is scared, but rather that Aspinall presents enough of a threat to cause genuine concern. A significant worry, Cormier speculates, might be the potential for a knockout loss.
“With Aspinall, there`s a real chance he could get knocked out,” Cormier explained. “Put on his back, cold. I don`t think he wants that image associated with him globally. He`s knocked out many fighters, but he`s never experienced being finished like that himself. Seeing myself get beat like that was a horrible visual.”
Jon Jones holds a career record with only one loss, a controversial disqualification, having never been legitimately knocked out. In contrast, Aspinall has demonstrated fearsome finishing ability, knocking out his last three opponents in a combined total of just over three minutes. This contrast is precisely what makes the potential fight so captivating – the possibility of one of the sport`s greatest facing his most dangerous challenge.
Despite fan skepticism about the fight ever materializing, Cormier remains confident it will. He believes Jones`s considerable ego will prevent him from vacating the title and enduring the perception that he “ran” from Aspinall. The idea of being seen as afraid is a stronger motivator for Jones than avoiding the risks of the fight itself.
Cormier concluded, “I don`t think he vacates without fighting him. The idea that people would think he ran is something his ego can`t handle. That idea means more to him than the risk, especially since there`s also a real possibility he could just outclass Tom Aspinall. You just don`t know. I believe he will fight him. They won`t need to strip him. Even though he could walk away as the best, the potential accusation of running will be too powerful a pull as he moves into the next phase of his career.”
