Jon Jones' most iconic rival believes Tom Aspinall's trash-talk is finally getting to 'Bones' as ongoing feud takes a vulgar turn
30/08/2024 12:49
How do you secure a fight with the consensus greatest UFC fighter of all time; Do you go on an outstanding win streak, brutally dispatching a slew of top contenders inside the very first round en route to claiming interim gold? Nope.
Instead, you 'lower the trash-talk bar' and find as many ways to disrespect the GOAT as possible in order to make him bleating furious. At least that's according to Daniel Cormier, who's made a fascinating argument as to why Tom Aspinall's recent comments are slowly but surely working in his favor.
Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall continue trading insults online
The Jon Jones – Tom Aspinall saga is one that's been going on for months, yet decidedly heated up this week following the British heavyweight claiming to SportBibleKO that 'Bones' was the 'Fighting Dodging Champion' of the world.
Unsurprisingly, those comments didn't sit too well with Jones, who offered a rageful response to his interim challenger, writing in a now-deleted post: "This dude literally has my large black c**k in his mouth every week. I'm flattered.
"I absolutely guarantee he will not win more world championships than me. That's truly all that matters at the end of the day. There's been many champions, no one like me. I sleep good at night."
Whilst the rather vulgar comment has certainly raised one or two eyebrows, former double champion and iconic rival Daniel Cormier believes that this is merely evidence of Aspinall finally getting to Jones.
Daniel Cormier believes Tom Aspinall is finally getting to Jones
Breaking down the heavyweight title picture via his official YouTube channel, Daniel Cormier argued that whilst Aspinall 'fumbled' the undisputed title fight at first, his changing of tune is now working in his favor.
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"While I thought he completed fumbled the post-fight interview with me in Manchester, he seems to be frustrated and honestly, frustration might be good right now because in frustration, you start to really show your true feelings on the situation.
"Now, he was very respectful in that interview… [But] respectful doesn't really get you all that you want – now respect is out of the window with this dude and he's just telling it how it is."
Cormier stated that because of his own iconic rivalry with Jones, he knows better than most how if there's one thing that gets underneath Bones' skin, it's being constantly disrespected in the public eye.
"The thing about Jon Jones [is] he doesn't like disrespect – he can't ignore it. He can't ignore it when you take shots at him… And we as fighters don't like being disrespected, especially one who has had as much success as Jon Jones.
“I’m telling you guys right now he’s [Aspinall] starting to get to him, he’s starting to get to Jon Jones, and when you get to him, that’s when you possibly get the fight."
Considering how harsh some of the comments from both sides have been in recent weeks, Cormier believes that the more Aspinall angers Jones, the more likely it is that the consensus GOAT will want to face the British juggernaut in the octagon.
"Things are picking up at heavyweight and I think we're closer today to Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall fighting than we've ever been [before] because I'm telling you, in beef, disrespect is always what gets you closer to fighting and Tom Aspinall is being disrespectful now.
"I think that is going to work in his advantage in terms of getting this fight, even if Jon goes through and fights Stipe, he might stick around to try to deal with the Tom Aspinall issue… The issue has become Tom Aspinall, because of the disrespect."
A reminder that the undisputed title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic has not yet been officially announced by the promotion, with the expectation being that that bout will take place in November at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Jon Jones' last title fight took place in March 2023, a submission win over Ciryl Gane, with Stipe Miocic having not competed since his KO loss to Francis Ngannou back in March 2021.
