The division might be on the shallow side today, but that’s not to say that heavyweight isn’t still packed with generational talent.
From Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar to Daniel Cormier and Francis Ngannou – the UFC heavyweight division has seen its fair share of superstars come and go.
Arguably one of the best heavyweights to have ever competed inside the octagon is former two-time champion Cain Velasquez, so what does the Californian think about the two juggernauts currently sharing joint custody of his old title?
- THROWBACK: Cain Velasquez bludgeoned bloody opponent as he bounced back from shock KO with savage win
Former UFC champion Cain Velasquez talks Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez recently joined Tim Kennedy to talk about everything from his life outside of the octagon, to what it feels like to win championship gold.
At one point of the conversation, Kennedy hailed Velasquez as the single greatest heavyweight to have ever graced the UFC octagon – and then asked how he’d fair if he ever came up against either Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall.
Rather than predicting who’d win, Velasquez simply acknowledged that either bout would be razor-close: “I think they’d be close fights or exciting fights.”
Kennedy then added that a prime Velasquez vs a prime Jones would’ve been the greatest fight in the division’s history – the former champion responded in kind, “I think so too.”
But what about Jones vs Aspinall itself?
Well, in conversation with Ariel Helwani earlier this year, Velasquez shared a definitive prediction for who he thinks would claim victory in that heavyweight unification bout.
“I don’t think [Aspinall wins] … Everyone has a pattern. Some people disguise it better than others. The way Tom comes in and fights, he has a pattern that is somewhat easier to fight.
“When he comes in and attacks, it’s 100 percent, full-go, glides in, lunges in, and does his attack. Not that it’s not effective [because] it is, he’s done great things with it. But a thing about Jon Jones is… I think he beats him because of it.”
- GRAND PRIX: UFC heavyweight contender maps out tournament to decide who faces Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall winner
Tom Aspinall admits he’s getting ‘bored’ of talking about Jon Jones
Speaking to Jamal Niaz earlier this week, Tom Aspinall was asked how the fight with Jon Jones would play out; with the British juggernaut acknowledging that in heavyweight MMA, anything can happen.
“It’s hard to say…. I might get knocked out in [the Jones] fight. Heavyweight MMA, you can’t plan too far in the future… It’s not about being humble, it’s just about being realistic.
“Two guys, both massive, both got tiny gloves on, anything can happen… I do think my talent is better than anybody else’s, but I’m also realistic. One of us has to lose, and there’s two of us in there. So, we’ll see.”
However, given that he claimed the interim heavyweight title all the way back in November 2023, it’s no surprise that Aspinall’s starting to get frustrated with constantly talking about ‘Bones’.
“I’ve had enough talking about it,” Aspinall admitted.
“I’m honestly bored of it, we’ll see what happens – I’m ready to fight whenever they tell me [so] just let me know, I’ll be there.”
Bloody Elbow recently spoke with Aspinall’s training partner about the Jon Jones fight.