Daniel Cormier Endorses Tom Aspinall for Promotion to Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion

Daniel Cormier believes that the UFC’s heavyweight division will experience a delay due to the rescheduling of the Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight.

The heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, was initially set to defend his title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295. However, a torn pectoral muscle forced Jones out of the fight, resulting in its cancellation. Instead, an interim title bout between Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich took place, with Aspinall emerging as the victor.

Despite his win, Aspinall’s victory won’t lead him to a title-unification bout. Instead, Jones vs. Miocic is anticipated to be rebooked for 2024, putting interim champ Aspinall in an unusual position. Cormier argues that Aspinall should have been elevated as the undisputed champion following his victory against Pavlovich.

“If Jones and Stipe are only going to fight each other, you cannot have Tom Aspinall defend the interim championship,” stated Cormier on The MMA Hour. “Jones and Stipe don’t need the title to be on the line. They can just fight, and that’s enough. Call it for ‘The Greatest of All Time.’ It doesn’t matter. Create a belt.”

Cormier added, “Tom Aspinall is the guy who’s going to lead the heavyweight division for years to come. So, yes, I believe that he should be the undisputed champ. Jones is the undisputed champion – he earned it in the octagon by beating Ciryl Gane. But if he’s only going to fight Stipe, and that’s not for another seven months? You put Tom Aspinall as the champ, and I don’t think anybody would bat an eyelid.”

Aspinall shares the same sentiment, calling for Jones to be stripped of his title while he recovers, and advocating for himself to be recognized as the undisputed champion, ready to defend against Stipe Miocic while waiting for Jones.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie