Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier is known for speaking his mind — and this week, he’s doing just that by pulling back the curtain on what he believes is the real reason Jon Jones hasn’t fought interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall.

While fans continue to demand a unification bout between Jones and Aspinall, the silence from Jones’s side has been deafening. Now, Cormier is offering insight into the situation — and he’s not pulling any punches.

 DC Tells It Like It Is

Speaking on his ESPN show DC & RC, Cormier addressed the mounting frustration over Jon Jones’s prolonged absence and lack of engagement with the Aspinall matchup:

“Let’s be real. Jon isn’t fighting Tom Aspinall because he knows it’s a dangerous fight — maybe the most dangerous of his career at heavyweight.”

Cormier explained that while Jones did accept a high-risk matchup against Ciryl Gane in his heavyweight debut, the situation with Aspinall is different:

“Ciryl Gane had no ground game — and that fight was done in two minutes. Tom Aspinall? He’s young, explosive, well-rounded, and fearless. That’s not a fight Jon takes unless he has to.”

 Protecting the Belt… and the Brand

Cormier also believes Jones may be protecting more than just his health — he’s protecting his legacy. After over a decade of dominance and controversy, Jones’s move to heavyweight was supposed to be the final chapter of greatness. But Cormier says:

“If he loses to Tom Aspinall, especially badly, it changes the whole narrative. Suddenly, he’s not the GOAT — he’s the guy who ducked the toughest fight and eventually paid for it.”

He adds that UFC politics may also be at play, with the organization hesitant to risk Jones’s drawing power in what could be a short-notice or unpredictable matchup.

 Time is Ticking

Jon Jones is still recovering from a torn pectoral muscle and hasn’t fought since March 2023. In the meantime, Tom Aspinall captured the interim title with a stunning first-round knockout over Sergei Pavlovich, and has openly campaigned for a shot at the undisputed belt.

Cormier is sympathetic to Aspinall’s position:

“The guy’s done everything right. He’s finished everyone. He’s the real deal. And now he’s stuck in limbo because the champion doesn’t want to fight.”

Legacy vs. Reality

Cormier concluded by saying that greatness comes with pressure — and dodging that pressure can hurt a legacy more than a loss:

“If Jon wants to be remembered as the best ever, he needs to fight the best right now. And right now, that’s Tom Aspinall. Anything less feels like an excuse.”

 Will the Fight Ever Happen?

With Jon Jones potentially returning in late 2024 and Aspinall continuing to dominate, the UFC may soon be forced to strip Jones or unify the titles. Whether Jones accepts the challenge or chooses a different path remains to be seen.

One thing is clear: Daniel Cormier has drawn a line — and he believes Jon Jones is avoiding a fight that could define his legacy.