Daniel Cormier doesn’t essentially agree together with his former foe Jon Jones in the case of his reasoning to go on a possible combat in opposition to Tom Aspinall however that doesn’t imply anyone is operating scared.
Within the days main as much as his heavyweight title protection in opposition to Stipe Miocic within the UFC 309 most important occasion, Jones revealed that he has little interest in going through Aspinall because the interim champion but when he chooses to combat once more, mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is perhaps price his time. For his half, Cormier understands why Pereira is the preferrable matchup over Aspinall however he doesn’t purchase that Jones is petrified of any opponent he might face within the octagon.
“Jon Jones isn’t afraid of Tom Aspinall,” Cormier mentioned on his YouTube channel. “I want individuals would cease saying that. He isn’t afraid of that man. He’s not afraid of anybody. He’s not afraid to combat this man. He’s not.
“I feel he’s attempting to be extra strategic I feel he’s attempting to ensure his legacy stands. I don’t know the way it might ever be pale. I imply we do have brief reminiscences however might you ever neglect what he did? I don’t suppose preventing Tom Aspinall with the potential that he would lose is a nasty factor. However as most would count on him to win the combat.”
When it comes to consideration and promoting pay-per-views, Cormier completely understands why Jones would reasonably face Pereira over Aspinall however he additionally believes there’s another excuse why that specific combat holds extra weight with the reigning UFC heavyweight champion.
“Sure, financially it could make sense,” Cormier defined. “It will [also] be a lot much less dangerous due to that evident gap within the matchup. I don’t know if Alex Pereira can defend takedowns in opposition to the very best guys. He’s wrestling Glover [Texeira], I’m positive Glover’s instructing him the way to defend takedowns. I’m positive Glover, who’s an incredible wrestler himself, has him ready however I don’t know the way he’ll do in dwell motion in opposition to a really elite [high level] wrestler. As a result of Jan Blachowicz isn’t and he was capable of take him down successfully.
“So yeah, Jon would like that matchup as a result of it’s a lot much less dangerous than preventing Tom Aspinall. Financially, he does have a degree. That’s the greatest cash combat for him with the much less threat as a result of individuals now know Pereira.”
The place Cormier splits from Jones is when he stopped simply wanting calling Aspinall a “no one” and added that the British born heavyweight simply hasn’t crushed anyone worthwhile to get his consideration. Jones acknowledged that he was carried out risking his legacy in opposition to up and coming fighters attempting to construct a reputation off of him.
As a lot as Jones protested about Aspinall’s resume, Cormier says the argument falls brief as a result of he’s not simply taking up some random contender within the division. Jones could be going through the interim champion and Aspinall’s accomplishments to earn that belt can’t be ignored.
“[Mauricio] ‘Shogun’ [Rua] needed to combat Jon Jones again within the day,” Cormier mentioned. “‘Rampage’ [Quinton Jackson] needed to combat Jon Jones again within the day. These guys had been huge names that fought him because the younger man that was a champion and he made a reputation off of all these legends. In order that by the point that I bought to him, he was a legend. Already in 2015, 2016, he was already a legend in preventing years however that was solely as a result of he had crushed all these nice guys earlier than. It truly is the story of sport, proper? The story of leisure.
“Earlier than Michael Jordan might be Michael Jordan, he needed to undergo the Detroit Pistons, who had been profitable within the 80s. He needed to beat the Boston Celtics to get to the finals, who had been going backwards and forwards with the Lakers. The outdated guard has to get handed by way of for the brand new guard to occur. So for Jon to say he’s a no one — however is he actually? He’s the world champ. Truthfully, that’s who he’s. He’s the No. 2 heavyweight on this planet. He’s the interim champ. He’s not a man that’s simply working his means by way of the division. It is a man that’s smashed the division.”
By all accounts, Jones isn’t budging on his disinterest in the case of Aspinall however Cormier additionally argues that this might simply be a method to publicly negotiate for a a lot larger purse to take that combat.
If the UFC actually needs to make Jones vs. Aspinall, it would power the promotion so as to add a few additional zeroes to any potential payday to make it occur.
However Cormier additionally understands the chance versus reward state of affairs for Jones the place he might face a heavyweight like Aspinall with eight finishes within the UFC with just one opponent making it previous the primary spherical or he might tackle a lightweight heavyweight in Pereira, who’s a deadly striker however not referred to as a high stage grappler.
“I don’t suppose he’s scared,’ Cormier mentioned. “Is there a fear that he might lose that match? As I learn [his comments], it sounds an increasing number of prefer it. However he’s not due to concern. He doesn’t actually really feel just like the juice is well worth the squeeze.”
