UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier is as familiar as anyone with how Jon Jones’s mind works.
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall could be on a collision course later this year. Despite months of negotiations, and Jones’s recent retirement teases, UFC CEO Dana White remains undeterred in making the heavyweight matchup come to fruition.
But Jones made headlines earlier this month when he appeared to dismiss the notion that he has to return to the cage soon to fight Aspinall, as he continues to make the UK superstar wait for a shot at the undisputed belt. Aspinall has fought just once since earning the interim heavyweight title at UFC 295 in a first-round knockout of Sergei Pavlovich.
Amidst Jones’s recent retirement teases, and the uncertainty regarding the Aspinall fight, the lineal heavyweight champion’s biggest rival believes Jones’s ego will ultimately lead to the matchup getting booked.
Daniel Cormier explains why he believes Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall will happen
During a recent episode of Funky and the Champ with Ben Askren, Daniel Cormier assessed Jones’s latest comments about a UFC return.
“I don’t know that he vacates without fighting [Tom], because I think the visual, and the lasting thought would be that ‘He ran from him’, and I don’t think his ego could handle that he ran from someone,” Cormier said of Jones.
“The idea that people would think he’s afraid means more to him than going out there and fighting him, and taking the chance. Especially when there’s a real possibility that he just outclasses Tom Aspinall…
“I think he will fight him, I don’t think they’ll need to strip him, he’ll fight him. He could walk away and go ‘I’m the best, I don’t need to do anything else’,” Cormier continued. “But the idea that he ran, is going to be too strong of a pull for him as he goes into the next phase of his career.”
Jones and Cormier fought twice during their careers, with Jones getting the upper hand in both matchups. Their rematch at UFC 214 was later overturned to a no-contest after Jones tested positive for a banned substance.
Amidst his long wait for Jones, Aspinall defended the interim title in a first-round finish over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 last July. Meanwhile, Jones defeated Stipe Miocic in his long-awaited first heavyweight title defense at UFC 309.
Tom Aspinall shared cryptic message amidst stalled Jon Jones fight talks
As Aspinall continues to wait for a fight announcement, he posted a cryptic message on his Instagram story that got fight fans talking. He shared a quote that read ‘What a blessing to be tired in the pursuit of a challenge of your own choosing’, hinting at the mental exhaustion he’s experienced while waiting to fight for the undisputed title.
A viral petition organized through Change.org calls for Jones to be stripped of the UFC heavyweight title. As of this writing, the petition has garnered nearly 100,000 signatures from frustrated fans waiting for Jones’s decision on a comeback.
According to White and the matchmakers, Jones vs. Aspinall remains the next heavyweight title matchup. In the meantime, fans are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of clarity on the title unification bout.
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