Jon Jones’ most vocal critic, Daniel Cormier, is standing by him against accusations that “Bones” is dodging a showdown with Tom Aspinall.
Jones is set to make his first heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic in the UFC 309 main event, taking place this Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The buildup to this highly anticipated matchup has been overshadowed by widespread accusations within the MMA community, with many claiming that Jones is intentionally sidestepping a title unification bout against interim champion Aspinall. The New Yorker stirred up controversy once again last week, expressing little enthusiasm for the fight.
Jones claims that Aspinall’s performances inside the Octagon have failed to spark any real excitement for a potential matchup. He further stated that, unless he retires after UFC 309, the only fight that piques his interest at this stage is a showdown with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
Jones’ remarks have once again provoked insinuations that he’s avoiding a showdown with Aspinall, supposedly fearing a loss as his career nears its twilight. However, Cormier firmly rejects this idea, even though he doesn’t fully endorse the reasoning of his former fierce rival.
During a recent video on his YouTube channel, “DC” recognized the legendary career of Jones and emphasized that the former UFC light heavyweight champion harbors no fear of Aspinall or any other competitor.
“Look, Jon Jones isn’t afraid of Tom Aspinall,” Cormier said. “I wish people would stop saying that. He is not afraid of that guy. He is not afraid of anyone. He is not afraid to fight this guy. He’s not. I think he’s trying to be more strategic. He’s trying to make sure his legacy stands. I don’t know it could ever be faded. I know we have short memories, but could you ever forget what he did? I don’t think him fighting Tom Aspinall with the potential he would lose is a bad thing.
“But most would expect him to win the fight. But at the end of the day, the old guard has to get passed through for the new guard to go. Unless you don’t play the sport by the way that everyone else does it. Everyone else does it that way. Maybe Jones will be different.”
