UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is not scared of fighting current interim titleholder Tom Aspinall, despite the fact that Jones refuses to make any commitments that interfere with his pool party in Thailand.
Jones is, however, afraid of joining the highlight reel hall of fame if Aspinall connects flush and sends “Bones” to the shadow realm. That’s according to longtime rival and former UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.
Cormier is winless in two fights against Jones.
“It’s a weird place that he’s at in his career right now,” Cormier said on YouTube. “He’s not scared, make no mistake about it. But I think it’s enough to question. You know what I think a big worry might be for him? With Aspinall, he can potentially get knocked out. Like legitimately knocked out and put on his back and out cold. I just don’t know if he wants to have that visual of him in the world. Because I’ve seen myself get beat, and I’m like, ‘God, that’s such a horrible visual every time.’ It sucks.”
Cormier was iced by Jones in their 2017 No Contest.
The promotion insists Jones will eventually return for his Aspinall title fight, despite a petition to have “Bones” stripped of the title. In addition, frustrated heavyweight contenders are stuck in a holding pattern until further notice.
Jones, who turns 38 in July, has not competed since finishing Stipe Miocic atop the UFC 309 card in New York. That bout represents his only heavyweight title fight over the last two years with absolutely nothing on the horizon … for now.