UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has offered his prediction for a hypothetical fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall.
Since retiring from MMA in 2020, Daniel Cormier has become a prominent figure in sports broadcasting, frequently appearing on UFC pay-per-view broadcasts alongside Joe Rogan and Jon Anik.
As a UFC color commentator, Cormier typically refrains from making predictions for upcoming fights, a practice also followed by Joe Rogan, despite his popular podcast.
However, Cormier recently took the chance to share his thoughts on how a highly anticipated potential fight between Jones and Aspinall might have unfolded.
Daniel Cormier Predicts Outcome of Potential Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Bout
Jon Jones surprised the MMA world with his retirement announcement last month. Following this, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall was elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion.
This development followed months of failed negotiations between Jones, Aspinall, and the UFC regarding a potential title unification fight. Aspinall had held the interim belt for nearly two years while waiting for Jones, who was scheduled to fight Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November.
Cormier, who has a long and complex rivalry with Jones, has publicly criticized his former foe for `quitting` rather than facing Aspinall. Despite his strong criticism, Cormier offered his perspective on how the matchup, had it occurred, might have unfolded.
Appearing on the Pound 4 Pound podcast recently, Cormier provided his prediction for the fight that never happened.
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.”
He continued, “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.”
Aspinall is known for finishing fights quickly and has never competed past the second round in his MMA career. His two UFC title opportunities against Curtis Blaydes and Sergei Pavlovich both concluded via first-round knockout.
In contrast, Jones is accustomed to championship rounds, having gone the full five-round distance multiple times, including one of his fights against Cormier. He secured challenging decision victories against opponents such as Alexander Gustafsson, Glover Teixeira, and Dominick Reyes during his reign as light heavyweight champion.
Despite recent events and fan disappointment, a future clash between Jones and Aspinall might still be possible.
Jon Jones Responds Intriguingly to Possibility of UFC Event at The White House
Jones recently sparked speculation by announcing his re-entry into the UFC`s drug testing pool. Fighters are required to be in the pool for a minimum of six months before being eligible to compete again, suggesting a potential return to the Octagon.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed an idea that could potentially entice Jones back. President Trump mentioned plans for the UFC to hold an event at The White House in 2026, drawing an interesting reaction from Jones.
After a graphic depicting Jones defeating Aspinall at The White House circulated widely, Jones commented with “I like this,” hinting at a possible comeback. Conor McGregor also expressed interest in participating in such an event.
The last time the UFC held an event in Washington D.C. was in 2019, featuring a Fight Night main event between heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Jack Thornley