UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier recently shared his prediction for a hypothetical fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall.
Since retiring from mixed martial arts in 2020, Daniel Cormier has become a highly recognizable figure in sports broadcasting. He is frequently seen on UFC pay-per-view broadcasts alongside commentators like Joe Rogan.
In his role as a UFC color analyst, Cormier typically avoids making predictions for upcoming fights, a practice also followed by Joe Rogan despite his large audience.
However, Cormier took the opportunity to speculate on the outcome of what was one of the most anticipated potential matchups in the UFC.
Daniel Cormier Details What Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Would’ve Looked Like
Jon Jones`s retirement announcement last month sent ripples through the MMA community. Following his announcement, interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall was promoted to undisputed heavyweight champion.
This turn of events occurred after months of discussion and negotiation involving Jones, Aspinall, and the UFC regarding a potential title unification bout. Aspinall held the interim title for nearly two years while awaiting Jones, who last fought Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November.
Cormier, who has a complex history with Jones as a former opponent, has publicly criticized Jones for `quitting` rather than facing Aspinall. Despite his harsh words for Jones, Cormier surprisingly predicted the fight would favor his former rival.
During a recent appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Cormier gave his prediction for the now-unlikely Jones vs. Aspinall bout.
Cormier stated, “Gun to my head, I think Jon beats Tom. I would have said he’ll probably beat him right now. Because, guess why? Tom has never been pushed into those championship rounds.
“Say Ciryl Gane pushes [Aspinall] 25 minutes. If he beats Ciryl Gane, but he learns to go 25 minutes where, for the first time you feel that [gasps for air], [and he’s] gotta get up off that stool after the third round… Tom hasn’t got off the stool for a third round. [Jones] needed to fight Tom now, when he doesn’t have that experience—especially as Jon Jones.”
Cormier pointed out Aspinall`s lack of experience in later rounds, noting that he has never fought beyond the second round in his professional MMA career. Both of his significant UFC title fights ended early by knockout.
In contrast, Jones has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to compete in championship rounds, going the full five rounds numerous times throughout his career, including against Cormier himself. He secured tough decision victories against formidable opponents like Alexander Gustafsson, Glover Teixeira, and Dominick Reyes during his reign as light heavyweight champion.
Despite the current situation, the possibility of a Jones vs. Aspinall fight may not be entirely off the table in the future.
Jon Jones Issues Intriguing Response to Potential UFC Event at The White House
Adding to speculation about a potential return, Jones recently announced he re-entered the UFC’s drug testing pool. Fighters are required to be in the pool for at least six months before being eligible to compete again.
Around the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump floated the idea of hosting a UFC event at The White House in 2026, a proposal that drew an interesting reaction from Jones. After a graphic circulated online depicting him fighting Aspinall at the White House, Jones responded simply with “I like this,” hinting at a potential comeback.
The possibility of a UFC event at the White House has also attracted interest from other prominent fighters like Conor McGregor. The last time the UFC held an event in Washington D.C. was in 2019.
