Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic is officially scheduled for November 17, 2024, at UFC 309. The fight was originally booked to headline Madison Square Garden in 2023 but was called off because of Jones' injury.
This time, Aspinall will be the backup fighter for the undisputed UFC heavyweight title fight. Considering he's been the interim champ for almost a year and has defended the belt once, many fans want him to get at least a shot at earning undisputed gold.
In contrast to Chael Sonnen, Daniel Cormier believes that if Jones vs. Miocic doesn't happen, none of the UFC veterans will risk fighting Tom Aspinall.
Daniel Cormier Compares Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic To Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira To Claim Back-Up Fighters Are Irrelevant
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Sonnen and Cormier discussed the UFC 309 main event on the latest episode of Good Guy / Bad Guy on the official ESPN MMA YouTube channel. "The American Gangster" stated that if Aspinall is officially the backup fighter, it is only after both "Bones" and Miocic have agreed to it.
Cormier asked Sonnen to hold his horses, reminding him that Sergei Pavlovich was the backup fighter for Jones vs. Miocic in 2023. Similarly, Mateusz Gamrot was the backup fighter for Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev in 2023. While Pavlovich never got to fight any of the legends, Alexander Volkanovski hopped past Gamrot to fight Makhachev.
After proving that the concept of a backup fighter is not as concrete as it sounds, Cormier also claimed that Jones and Miocic are unlikely to fight Aspinall as a backup. He admitted that none of the UFC greats are scared, but they can't risk losing to him at the final stages of their careers.
It's not even about being scared. It's not even, it's about risk management Chael. Whoever, if someone gets hurt in this fight, the reward versus the risk of fighting Tom Aspinall is so great, I don't believe that either of them will do it. Love that it's a part of the story now. We all love the story, we love a great story but I don't know that plays.
This applies greatly to Jones, who's been technically undefeated his whole career. If he wants to go out with a perfect record, he'd prefer fighting an old but popular Miocic over Aspinall who's knocking heavyweights out cold at a gallop.
I don't think he's scared Chael. But again, it's risk vs. reward. Jon Jones, I will tell you this right now, Jon Jones. To his credit, a win over Tom Aspinall does nothing more for Jon Jones than a win over me or Vitor Belfort or Rashad Evans or Shogun Rua or Alexander Gustaffson and all these list of great fighters that he's already beat." Cormier added, "But losing to Tom Aspinall, losing to Tom Aspinall does do something because now you see him lose. He's never lost. That matters to him now.