Daniel Cormier is convinced that UFC 295 could have had a more thrilling heavyweight title bout.
The original championship fight was canceled due to a torn pectoral muscle suffered by heavyweight champion Jon Jones, forcing him to withdraw from his initial title defense against Stipe Miocic on November 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York. As a result, the promotion opted to arrange a fight between Sergei Pavlovich (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) and Tom Aspinall (13-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC) for the interim belt.
Given the immense talent and potential for greatness exhibited by both Aspinall and Pavlovich thus far, Cormier believes their fight might provide more excitement than Jones vs. Miocic would have.
“We could have become infatuated with the idea of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic based on their history, and we might be overestimating the significance of that fight,” stated Cormier on his ESPN show, “DC & RC.” “Because Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall might be a superior fight.”
Cormier argues that the extended period of inactivity for former champion Miocic raises uncertainties about how he would fare against Jones, whereas Pavlovich and Aspinall are currently at the peak of their careers.
“You’re witnessing the clash of Pavlovich vs. Aspinall, two of the world’s top heavyweights,” explained Cormier. “What I’m suggesting is that we don’t really know who Stipe is today at the age of 41, having not seen him since he was 39. I’m not saying he won’t be the same fighter. I’m simply pointing out that at this moment, we have two young and hungry lions battling for a share of the heavyweight championship.
“… Right now, I don’t know if people are looking at the Miocic-Jones fight and thinking, ‘Wow, this is going to be incredible.’ But was it going to be incredible in 2015 or 2016, or will it be incredible today? That’s all I’m saying. What I do know is that the new co-main event at UFC 295 is going to be sensational because these two young heavyweights are exceptional fighters. It’s going to be an extraordinary fight, and it might even surpass Jones vs. Miocic in terms of competitiveness and excitement.”
For further details on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.
Sarah Foster is your guide to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. With a deep understanding of MMA’s intricacies and a passion for the sport, she offers comprehensive coverage of MMA events, fighter profiles, and in-depth analysis of fights. Sarah’s commitment to the octagon ensures that readers stay engaged with the latest developments in the MMA world.
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