Joe Rogan once described Tom Aspinall as the next step in the evolution of heavyweights, praising his rare combination of speed and power. And the UFC commentator wasn’t wrong. The Englishman boasts an astonishing average fight time of just 2 minutes and 2 seconds and has never gone past the second round in his entire MMA career. His piston-like punches have flattened top contenders such as Sergei Pavlovich, Alexander Volkov, and Curtis Blaydes, showcasing just how dangerous he truly is.
However, despite his dominance, the Manchester native recently admitted there’s one fighter from the past who would have been a nightmare matchup for him. And it’s none other than former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier.
Tom Aspinall Talks Highly About the 265lbs Version of Daniel Cormier
During his prime, Cormier utilized his Olympic-level wrestling skills to silence critics and dominate his opponents. Despite being undersized at both 265lbs and 205lbs, Cormier is still regarded as one of the greatest to ever step inside the Octagon. Recognizing those achievements, Aspinall recently shared his thoughts on how a matchup with a prime heavyweight version of Cormier might have played out.
In a recent appearance on the ShxtsnGigs podcast, the reigning heavyweight champion said, “Yeah, you know, Daniel Cormier. Peak DC has the worst style for me ever.”
He continued, “He’s like short — I’ve said this to his face — short guy who just keeps walking forward, changes levels in between grappling and punches. You can’t take him down, and he’s got cardio for days. For my style, he’s a nightmare. Ah, he was a beast. Peak ‘DC’ was unreal.”
Tom Aspinall says Daniel Cormier at his peak would be a nightmare matchup😳
Tom Aspinall was asked if there’s any fighter — current, retired, in or outside the UFC — that he thinks he’d definitely lose to.
He replied:
“Yeah, you know, Daniel Cormier. Peak DC has the worst style… pic.twitter.com/vLlcBcKwI4— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 12, 2025
Fans will remember that Cormier began his career as a heavyweight in Strikeforce, where he captured the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix title in 2011. His UFC journey could have unfolded very differently had he stayed at 265lbs from the start.
However, training alongside the then-heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez pushed him to drop down to 205lbs, where he went on to dominate in Jon Jones’ absence. Cormier eventually returned to heavyweight and made history at UFC 226 by knocking out Stipe Miocic to become just the second fighter in UFC history to hold two belts simultaneously.
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Given the list of elite fighters Cormier defeated over his career, it’s no surprise that Aspinall holds the Olympic standout in such high regard. While a showdown between the two can only remain a fantasy, Aspinall’s reality is just as compelling.
The Englishman is set to return to the Octagon after nearly 15 months to defend his heavyweight crown for the first time against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. After being upgraded to undisputed status following UFC Baku earlier this year, Aspinall now looks to usher in a new era at 265 lbs following Jon Jones’ retirement.
The big question remains: will Aspinall continue his reign, or will Gane finally capture gold in his third attempt?
