UFC 321 proved to be a tough night for Tom Aspinall and the heavyweight division as a whole. While much of the attention centered around the controversial ending caused by a double eye poke, another story involving Daniel Cormier also stirred discussion on social media ahead of the event in Abu Dhabi. For context, the former two-division UFC champion sat down with Aspinall for a one-on-one interview during fight week.
After their chat, Cormier pulled the Englishman aside to offer some encouragement, telling him he had the potential to dominate the 265-pound division for years to come based on the matchups ahead. However, Cormier’s praise of Aspinall sparked backlash after fans accused him of downplaying or insulting several other heavyweight contenders in the process. Following the Abu Dhabi controversy, ‘DC’ has now publicly addressed those comments to clarify his stance.
Daniel Cormier Clarifies His Remarks on Jailton Almeida but Admits the Comments Should Have Remained Private
During their private conversation, Cormier made a blunt remark about fellow heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida, saying that Almeida can’t fight and wouldn’t really stand a chance against Aspinall.
For the unversed, the Brazilian went on to face Alexander Volkov in a potential No. 1 contender’s bout on the same UFC 321 card. Despite securing several takedowns, Almeida struggled to inflict meaningful damage and ultimately lost a split decision.
A behind the scenes conversation between Daniel Cormier and Tom Aspinall, with DC whispering “secretly” directly into Tom’s microphone on his neck
“these matchups in this division, the type of run you could go on would be CRAZY”😂
Via: @AspinallMMA pic.twitter.com/8aTkLWRvTx
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 23, 2025
Adding to the controversy, Cormier later revealed that he felt betrayed by Aspinall for releasing footage of their discussion in one of his YouTube vlogs ahead of the event. The clip made Cormier look unprofessional in the eyes of many fans, given his current role as a UFC analyst, a position that requires neutrality and professionalism.
Addressing the issue on his Good Guy/Bad Guy podcast with Chael Sonnen, Cormier said, “Speaking of Jailton Almeida: Thank you so much for that YouTube video with Tom Aspinall.”
He went on to explain what really happened during their conversation, “So, him and I were talking and the [hot] mic was on me. I was literally trying to tell him you could possibly be on the verge of something tremendously special right now. In that statement, I was saying Jailton’s going to grapple you. It’s not as dangerous a fight. I could have done a better job of saying that to Tom.”
Cormier further expressed disappointment over the clip being made public, “Now I was a little upset that Tom and them released that, if I’m being honest with you. I thought when you lean into someone and you’re talking quietly, that’s a private conversation that should stay between you and the athlete.”
ALSO READ: Jon Jones Labels Tom Aspinall a Quitter as 6-Month-Old Unreleased Footage Comes to Life
👀😬 “I was a little upset with that” Daniel Cormier on Tom Aspinall releasing the private conversation about Jailton Almeida
“In that statement, I was saying that Jailton is going to wrestle you — it’s not as dangerous of a fight — and I could’ve done a better job of saying… pic.twitter.com/BRXoceMg68
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 27, 2025
The former UFC champion added, “I thought it was Embedded, and I know that Embedded would never do something like that.”
Daniel Cormier Feels Guilty for His Comments on Jailton Almeida Ahead of UFC 321
Despite his frustration, Cormier didn’t defend his remarks about Almeida and instead acknowledged that the Brazilian deserved more respect.
While his performance of landing just nine significant strikes in a three-round fight despite over 11 minutes of control time somewhat echoed Cormier’s initial assessment, the Hall of Famer admitted that he regretted his words once they became public.
He concluded, “Regardless of what you’re saying — whether in jest or being honest — Jailton Almeida deserves respect, and I do respect him. I feel bad. He’s been so nice to me since he got into the UFC, and I think Jailton Almeida’s a great guy.”
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Cormier did not confirm whether he had spoken to Aspinall about the issue privately. However, he did appear in Aspinall’s post-UFC 321 vlog, where the Englishman was visibly upset about the eye poke incident.
In the video, Cormier could be heard saying that the left eye poke was more brutal. It would be interesting to see how the UFC 321 debacle affects the future of the heavyweight division in the coming months.
