Daniel Cormier believes Jon Jones is not afraid of fighting Tom Aspinall but prefers a matchup with Alex Pereira due to strategic reasons and potential financial benefits, though he acknowledges that Jones’ reluctance might also be a negotiation tactic for a higher payday.
Daniel Cormier doesn’t necessarily see eye to eye with his former rival Jon Jones on his decision to pass up a fight against Tom Aspinall. But that doesn’t mean anyone is running scared.
Ahead of his heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, Jones mentioned he’s uninterested in facing Aspinall as the interim champ. Instead, if he fights again, light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira might be more appealing. Cormier gets why Pereira is a preferable matchup but doesn’t believe Jones fears any opponent in the octagon.
“Jon Jones isn’t afraid of Tom Aspinall,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “I wish people would stop saying that. He’s not afraid of that guy. He’s not afraid of anyone.”
“I think he’s trying to be more strategic,” Cormier mused. “He’s ensuring his legacy stands. Can you ever forget what he did? Fighting Aspinall and potentially losing isn’t bad, but most expect him to win.”
When it comes to attention and pay-per-views, Cormier sees why Jones prefers Pereira over Aspinall. Yet, there’s another reason this fight matters more for the reigning UFC heavyweight champ.
“Financially, it makes sense,” Cormier explained. “It’s less risky due to a glaring hole in the matchup. Can Alex Pereira defend takedowns against top guys? Glover [Teixeira] is teaching him, but how will he fare against an elite wrestler?”
“So yeah, Jon prefers that matchup—it’s less risky than fighting Aspinall. Financially, it’s the biggest money fight with less risk because people know Pereira now.”
Where Cormier diverges from Jones is on calling Aspinall a “nobody.” The British-born heavyweight hasn’t beaten anyone worthwhile, according to Jones. He’s done risking his legacy against up-and-comers.
Jones’ protests about Aspinall’s resume don’t hold water for Cormier. Aspinall isn’t just any contender; he’s the interim champ, and his accomplishments can’t be ignored.
“‘Shogun’ [Rua] and ‘Rampage’ [Jackson] had to fight Jon Jones back then,” Cormier said. “Those legends made him who he is today—a legend by 2015, 2016—because he beat them all.”
“Before Michael Jordan was Michael Jordan, he had to go through the Pistons and Celtics. The old guard must give way for the new. So calling Aspinall a nobody—is he really? He’s the world champ.”
Jones remains firm on his disinterest in Aspinall, but Cormier suggests this might be a negotiation tactic for a bigger payday.
If UFC wants Jones vs. Aspinall, they might have to sweeten the deal with extra zeros.
Cormier understands the risk-reward scenario for Jones: face a heavyweight like Aspinall with eight finishes or take on a striker like Pereira without top-level grappling skills.
“I don’t think he’s scared,” Cormier said. “Is there worry about losing? Maybe. But it’s not fear; it’s about whether the juice is worth the squeeze.”