Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier still sees a way for Tom Aspinall to stake his claim for the next shot at Jon Jones.
Aspinall appeared to put himself in line for an inevitable dream showdown with Jones after capturing the interim heavyweight gold at UFC 295 last November. He did so by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in a matchup that replaced the original title fight between "Bones" and Stipe Miocic.
Despite the need for a unification fight, both Jones and the powers that be have been insistent on the Miocic bout being kept together for the back end of 2024.
The Englishman and a large portion of the MMA community have frequently bemoaned that decision. With minds seemingly made up, Aspinall is focusing his energy elsewhere as he gears up to defend his interim belt in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes on home soil at UFC 304 this month.
But when it comes to pipping Miocic to the post and sharing the Octagon with Jones next, "DC" says hope is not completely lost...
Cormier: Demolition Of Blaydes Could Force UFC Into Jones vs. Aspinall
During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier gave his latest thoughts on the state of the title picture in the division he formerly ruled over.
While both Jones and the UFC have remained steadfast on rearranging the Miocic fight for the promotion's next visit to Madison Square Garden in November, "DC" doesn't believe everything is set in stone just yet.
For that to happen. Cormier thinks UFC 304 will have to pass by without an emphatic and dominant display from the interim titleholder.
I can't wait to get to Manchester. Dude, could you imagine if Tom Aspinall just washes out Curtis Blaydes? Then the firestorm that will start to gather for him to fight Jones — or if Curtis Blaydes just demolishes Tom Aspinall? It would be crazy," Cormier said. "Here's the difference, though: for there to truly be an uprising, it would have to be Aspinall destroying Blaydes.
You've seen Curtis Blaydes lose before. So people would think, 'Oh, he beat Tom Aspinall, but we've seen him get beat by Francis and lose to other guys.' ... But if Aspinall goes through Blaydes in the way he did Sergei, and he's only lost because of that injury default, people would lose their minds almost insisting that he and Jones fight," Cormier continued. "If Tom Aspinall can get through this fight and he's clean and he looks dominant, there may be such a fan uprising that the UFC may be forced to make Jones vs. Aspinall. I don't know what that would do for my man Stipe.
Judging by his recent remarks, Jones evidently doesn't see much chance of a demolition job in Manchester.
In addition to backing Blaydes to get the job done on July 27, the Rochester native suggested "Razor" was piecing Aspinall up in their 2022 UFC Fight Night headliner. That's despite the bout lasting just 15 seconds.
Jones has also pointed to reigning light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira as a more intriguing option than Aspinall, claiming only UK fans would rather see him fight the interim champ.