Daniel Cormier cautions Tom Aspinall about leaving UFC, explains why he won't benefit in other MMA organizations
Daniel Cormier has reacted to the widespread rumors of heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall potentially departing the UFC.
Tom Aspinall has found himself in the eye of the storm as of late. Rumors have been rife that the Englishman, who's the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, could depart the UFC soon.
Aspinall, on his part, recently put forth an X post and shut down the aforementioned rumors, clarifying that he's not leaving the UFC.
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has now advised Aspinall to continue competing in the UFC to maximize the financial rewards he accrues in the sport of MMA.
Daniel Cormier references the elements at play in the recent tensions between Tom Aspinall and the UFC
Taking to his official YouTube channel, former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier alluded to a few important variables that have lately come into play in the Tom Aspinall-UFC business relationship.
He alluded to Aspinall signing with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Talent Agency this year and procuring the services of Hearn as his brand advisor. Meanwhile, UFC CEO and president Dana White and the UFC organization entered the world of professional boxing promotion with their Zuffa Boxing brand. The past several months have seen Hearn and White trade barbs as competitors in the pro boxing promoter space.
Cormier also seemed to reference the hypothesis that Hearn is stalling Aspinall's UFC comeback and demanding the UFC accord his client unreasonably gargantuan paydays. The UFC fighter-turned-commentator emphasized that Hearn and White are two influential personalities, in this context, who "dislike each other so much."
Daniel Cormier advises Tom Aspinall to stay in the UFC for maximum financial benefits as an MMA fighter
Daniel Cormier, prominently, cited a pair of examples to urge Tom Aspinall to stay in the UFC. He drew attention to his own teammate, PFL lightweight kingpin Usman Nurmagomedov. He indicated that Nurmagomedov has expressed interest in potentially joining the UFC despite being one of the highest-paid MMA fighters outside the UFC.
Cormier implied that this could be attributed not only to the Dagestani star's aim to get paid even more, but also to his desire to achieve success in the world's top MMA organization and solidify his legacy.
Secondly, Cormier brought up former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who famously exited the UFC after negotiation disputes a few years ago. He explained that Ngannou "maxed out" his earning potential outside the UFC -- by partaking in a handful of boxing and MMA fights (one MMA bout in the PFL and the other in MVP MMA).
The American added, however, that Ngannou or other MMA fighters may score a few mammoth paydays outside the UFC, but they can't do so consistently because other MMA organizations can't offer such paydays on a consistent basis.
Advising Aspinall -- who's likely heading into a UFC heavyweight title unifier with Ciryl Gane this year -- Cormier stated: "Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champ, and the only place for him to be is the UFC. That is the God's honest truth, guys. It's just not -- MMA is not really a sport, where you can go anywhere else."
Cormier added, "You can build yourself in other places. But in order for you to ultimately reach the star level that you want, to make the money that you want or hope to make, that has to be in the UFC."
The MMA legend opined that Aspinall and the UFC have to meet halfway, in financial negotiations, to ensure that the UFC heavyweight champion is back in action.
Watch Daniel Cormier's advice for Tom Aspinall below (*comments at the 2:20-minute mark of the video):
