Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier has stated that Tom Aspinall must face Jon Jones to truly establish his legacy and be recognized as the legitimate heavyweight champion. Cormier drew from his personal experience competing at heavyweight and pointed out that Jones previously avoided a title fight against Francis Ngannou, which left unanswered questions about the lineal championship. This context highlights why Aspinall’s legacy is currently seen as incomplete without a victory over Jones.
Jon Jones relinquished the UFC heavyweight title and announced his retirement last month after delaying a unification bout with Aspinall. Dana White later confirmed Jones’s retirement, leading to Aspinall becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion. Despite Aspinall holding the belt, Cormier insists the title’s continuity is broken without a direct fight between Aspinall and Jones.
Insights into the Broken Line of the Lineal Championship
In a conversation with Demetrious Johnson, Cormier explained why Aspinall needs to face Jones to close the gap on the heavyweight throne. He reflected on how his own career was shadowed by never defeating Jones and compared that gap to Aspinall’s situation.
“Tom needs Jon. He does, bro… I’m only telling this as a guy who lived in that world. I also never beat him [Jones]. No matter what I did going forward, it was always like, ‘Oh, you never beat Jon Jones.’ Tom Aspinall is going to get that belt and there’s going to be a gap. That lineal championship breaks, that line breaks, when Tom goes from interim to champion because Jon never gave him the opportunity to fight him.” —Daniel Cormier, Former UFC Champion
Cormier also recalled how Jones previously avoided a championship fight with Francis Ngannou, which contributed to the fragmentation of the title’s lineage.
“Francis [Ngannou] was going to give Jon Jones an opportunity, Jon wasn’t ready to take it at the time. So it keeps breaking.” —Daniel Cormier, Former UFC Champion
Cormier’s Prediction for a Future Aspinall vs. Jones Matchup
Despite the rivalry and high stakes, Cormier believes Jon Jones would have the upper hand in a potential fight against Tom Aspinall. Speaking on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman, Cormier said that Aspinall lacks the experience of going through championship rounds, which could be a critical factor.
“Gun to my head, I would have said Jon beats [Aspinall] right now. I would have said he’ll probably beat him right now because guess why? Tom has never been pushed into those championship rounds… Tom hasn’t got off the stool for a third round.” —Daniel Cormier, Former UFC Champion
Cormier further described the challenges fighters face in later rounds by comparing Aspinall’s inexperience with how Francis Ngannou appeared during his fight with Stipe Miocic, emphasizing the importance of endurance and pacing in title fights.
“Francis [Ngannou], when he fought Stipe [Miocic], and he went to try and knock him out, by the middle of the fight, Francis was looking like he saw a ghost. Breathing out of his mouth and nose… You needed to fight Tom now, when he doesn’t have that experience, especially as Jon Jones.” —Daniel Cormier, Former UFC Champion
Understanding the Stakes for the UFC Heavyweight Division
The developments surrounding Jon Jones’s retirement and Aspinall’s rise to undisputed champion have created uncertainty in the UFC heavyweight division. Cormier’s perspective underscores how the heavyweight title lineage feels incomplete without a face-off between the two fighters. Aspinall’s claim to the belt awaits the validation that only a fight against Jones can provide, meaning the future of the heavyweight championship likely hinges on whether Jones returns or officially passes the torch.
This situation reflects broader dynamics in UFC title histories, where legacies are often shaped not only by winning belts but also by conquering key rivals. For Tom Aspinall, the challenge is clear: to close the lingering gap and earn undisputed recognition, he may need to settle matters with Jon Jones inside the octagon.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What did Jon Jones test positive for?
A. During the hearing, it was disclosed that Jones tested positive for clomiphene and letrozole metabolites. These are found in Tadalafil, a medication for erectile dysfunction, which Jones admitted to using.