Tag: Jon Jones

Daniel Cormier Certain Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic Will Avoid Facing Backup Fighter Tom Apsinall at UFC 309

Daniel Cormier Certain Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic Will Avoid Facing Backup Fighter Tom Apsinall at UFC 309Tom Aspinall may officially be the backup for Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, but Daniel Cormier can’t see either…

Daniel Cormier Certain Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic Will Avoid Facing Backup Fighter Tom Apsinall at UFC 309

Tom Aspinall may officially be the backup for Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, but Daniel Cormier can’t see either one of them actually fighting the interim UFC heavyweight champion in NYC.

18 months removed from his title-winning performance against Ciryl Gane to claim the undisputed heavyweight crown, ‘Bones’ is scheduled to defend his belt against the greatest fighter the division has ever seen on Saturday, November 16 inside Madison Square Garden.

459550993 1084156409740796 1296437042743933804 n

Jones vs. Miocic was originally scheduled to go down last November, but a pectoral injury forced Jones out of the bout. That paved the way for Tom Aspinall to step in and take home the interim heavyweight title via a stunning first-round knockout of Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295.

maxresdefault 7

Since then, Aspinall has been angling hard for a fight with Jones. Instead, he’ll have to settle for a backup role at UFC 309, but even if one of the two headliners is unable to make the walk come fight night, Cormier isn’t convinced that either one of them would actually agree to fight Aspinall on short notice.

“Guess what Chael [Sonnen]? Now you have the opportunity to be let down,” Cormier said on a recent episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy with co-host Chael Sonnen. “Step into my shoes for once… If one of those dudes [Jones or Miocic] gets hurt, neither one of them is fighting Tom Aspinall. You’re out of your mind. No way! When Jon Jones got hurt the first time [at UFC 295] Sergei Pavlovich was the backup fighter who fought. If somebody gets hurt, get ready for Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane. Mark my words, there you go” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Cormier thinks it’s a matter of ‘risk vs. reward’ for Jon jones and stipe miocic

Cormier doesn’t necessarily think it would be a matter of Jones or Miocic being scared of Tom Aspinall. Instead, he thinks it comes down to a case of “risk vs. reward” for the two combat sports icons who are in the twilight of their respective careers.

“It’s not even about being scared. It’s not even, it’s about risk management Chael,” Cormier continued. “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.

“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.”

‘Big’ John McCarthy Breaks Down Why Jon Jones Isn’t a Mount Rushmore MMA Fighter

‘Big’ John McCarthy Breaks Down Why Jon Jones Isn’t a Mount Rushmore MMA FighterFormer UFC referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy doesn’t think Jon Jones belongs on the Mount Rushmore of MMA. When discussing…

‘Big’ John McCarthy Breaks Down Why Jon Jones Isn’t a Mount Rushmore MMA Fighter

Former UFC referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy doesn’t think Jon Jones belongs on the Mount Rushmore of MMA.

When discussing the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, names like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Royce Gracie, and Jon Jones inevitably pop up. The reasons for adding a specific fighter to one’s ‘Mount Rushmore’ list can and usually do vary, but it seems like when someone wants to exclude the reigning undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, there’s usually one universal thought behind his exclusion.

Jon Jones

“I look at it different. If you want to say best fighters for Mount Rushmore, the best fighters there ever was, well Jon Jones is on it,” McCarthy said during a recent episode of his Weighin In podcast with Josh Thomson. “If you’re going to say give me an MMA Mount Rushmore, the criteria for it is different than just best fighter and there’s things that, you know, have been done in the past that I go no, I can’t put you on that. Let’s just be honest” (h/t MMA News).

Does Jon Jones’ history of arrests and PED violations Disqualify him From GOAT Talks?

Obviously, McCarthy is referring to Jon Jones’ laundry list of trouble outside of the Octagon. On three separate occasions between 2015 and 2017, ‘Bones’ was flagged for a variety of banned substances, the first being benzoylecgonine, the primary metabolite of cocaine.

The following year, a urine sample ahead of his scheduled clash with Daniel Cormier at UFC 200 tested positive for two banned substances, clomiphene, an anti-estrogen substance, and letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor. Jones was forced to withdraw from the fight and was slapped with a one-year suspension.

Their fight was eventually rescheduled for UFC 214, but this time around, Jones tested positive for the anabolic steroid Turinabol. Jones was stripped of the light heavyweight title for the third time in his career and was suspended for 15 months.

And then you’ve got his multiple arrests for hit-and-run, domestic violence, DWI, battery, assault, and interference with communications.

Jon Jones

“I take a look at outside of the sport, Jon hasn’t been the greatest ambassador for the sport,” McCarthy added. “He’s had more controversy than I can give him.”

Jon Jones

Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Haven’t Agreed To Tom Aspinall Back-Up Role

Following the official announcement for Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, Tom Aspinall was confirmed to be the back-up. Many have been campaiging for the interim champion to get the next shot at Jones’s heavyweight title, rather than the rescheduled clash with Miocic. Dana White said himself in a […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Haven’t Agreed To Tom Aspinall Back-Up Role at MMA News.

Following the official announcement for Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, Tom Aspinall was confirmed to be the back-up.

Many have been campaiging for the interim champion to get the next shot at Jones’s heavyweight title, rather than the rescheduled clash with Miocic.

Dana White said himself in a recent press conference that Aspinall is next for whatever happens in this division and will therefore, be in New York ready to make weight if required.

However, this then opens up the question of whether Jones or Miocic would even contemplate fighting Aspinall on short notice, if either man does pull out before November 16.

Daniel Cormier Calls Chael Sonnen ‘Gullible’ For Thinking That Jones & Miocic Agreed To Fight Aspinall

In a recent episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy, Chael Sonnen asked Daniel Cormier whether he could confirm that Aspinall being the back-up means that Jones and Miocic had to sign off on it.

Cormier’s response was to laugh at Sonnen for even suggesting that this would be a possibility, labelling him as “gullible”.

“No, it does not mean that. What it means is now we have another opportunity for disappointment. See that’s the difference between living, hey, that’s the difference between growing up in a mansion and growing up in the ghetto. In the ghetto, you learn to expect disappointment. You learn to be let down, that is just the way it is. So guess what Chael, now you have an opportunity to be let down so step into my shoes once. If one of those dudes get hurt, neither one of them is fighting Tom Aspinall. You’re out of your mind, no way.”

To illustrate his point, Cormier pointed to UFC 295 last year where Jones did pull out of the fight but there was a back-up fighter on hand.

Despite Sergei Pavlovich being ready to take his place, Miocic chose to wait for “Bones”, instead which led to the creation of the interim title which was won by Aspinall.

Cormier finished his statement by making a bold prediction of what will actually happen if either man withdraws.

“When Jon Jones got hurt the first time, Sergei Pavlovich was the back-up fighter, who fought? Who fought? If somebody gets hurt, get ready for Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane, mark my words.”

Read also: Former Champ Skeptical Of Michael Chandler Beating ‘Meaningful Favorite’ Charles Oliveira At UFC 309

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Haven’t Agreed To Tom Aspinall Back-Up Role at MMA News.

Daniel Cormier Explains Why Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Won’t Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Risk vs. Reward’

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 […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Explains Why Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Won’t Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Risk vs. Reward’ at MMA News.

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

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.”

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Explains Why Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Won’t Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Risk vs. Reward’ at MMA News.

Daniel Cormier Explains Why Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Won’t Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Risk vs. Reward’

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 […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Explains Why Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Won’t Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Risk vs. Reward’ at MMA News.

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

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.”

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier Explains Why Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Won’t Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Risk vs. Reward’ at MMA News.

Daniel Cormier On Jon Jones’ Likely Retirement: ‘There Is Work Left To Be Done’ 

Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier recently reacted to Jon Jones’ clearest retirement statement to date. Jones is set to make his first defense of the heavyweight title at UFC 309 this coming November, 20 months on from his crowning at the expense of Ciryl Gane in March 2023. The long wait was caused by […]

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier On Jon Jones’ Likely Retirement: ‘There Is Work Left To Be Done’  at MMA News.

Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier recently reacted to Jon Jones’ clearest retirement statement to date.

Jones is set to make his first defense of the heavyweight title at UFC 309 this coming November, 20 months on from his crowning at the expense of Ciryl Gane in March 2023. The long wait was caused by an injury to the champ, which previously forced him out of a planned showdown with Stipe Miocic.

In the time since their canceled title clash last November, the division has seen an interim titleholder crowned in Tom Aspinall, who has even notched a successful defense in 2024 by getting the better of Curtis Blaydes.

While that’s left many calling for Jones to unify the title against the Brit, both he and the UFC have long remained firm on rebooking the Miocic matchup. “Bones” has been the subject of criticism for that, with plenty suggesting he’ll likely retire following the Nov. 16 event and avoid facing Aspinall.

The chances of that increased a few days ago when Jones told Clocked N’ Loaded that Miocic will more than likely mark his final opponent.

Cormier Pushes Back On Jones Retirement Before Facing Aspinall

During a recent episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Ben Askren, Cormier reacted to Jones’ latest remarks while in Las Vegas for UFC 306 this past weekend.

“DC” acknowledged that there isn’t much left at heavyweight that’s worth Jones prolonging his career for. But what there is, however, is an interim champ in Aspinall, and his presence is enough for Cormier to see Jones’ potential retirement as leaving incomplete work behind.

“This is the fight that you want in Madison Square Garden, 1,000 percent,” Cormier said. “(But) hearing Jones say — or hearing the rumor that Jones said, ‘This is it for me,’ it sucks because I do believe that there is some work left to be done, with Aspinall mainly. I don’t think anyone else right now warrants him sticking around. We saw what he did to Ciryl Gane.

“The guy’s obviously doing well, probably just doesn’t want to fight anymore. So what happens, right? You walk away,” Cormier continued. “I believe that when push comes to shove, they might nudge him if he gets through Stipe. They nudge you, they nudge you, they nudge you, and then you end up getting more money and then you ultimately fight.”

It remains to be seen whether or not Jones will follow through with his frequent hints at retirement come fight night at MSG.

But with Tom Aspinall set to be in New York City as the backup fighter, it stands to reason that “Bones” will have a vocal interim counterpart in attendance as he announces his decision.

Continue Reading Daniel Cormier On Jon Jones’ Likely Retirement: ‘There Is Work Left To Be Done’  at MMA News.