UFC 321 turned out to be one Tough night for Tom Aspinall and the heavyweight division as a whole. While much attention was focused on the controversial ending caused by a double eye poke, another story involving Daniel Cormier also sparked discussion on social media ahead of the Abu Dhabi event. For context, the former two-division UFC champion spoke with Aspinall for a one-on-one interview during fight week.
After their conversation, 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 upcoming matches. However, Cormier’s praise for Aspinall led to 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 discussed these comments to clarify his position.
Daniel Cormier clarifies his comments about Jailton Almeida, but admits the comments should have remained private
During their private conversation, Cormier made a blunt comment about fellow heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida, saying 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 match 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 “secretly” whispering directly into Tom’s microphone on his neck
“These matchups in this division, the kind of run you could do 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 prior to 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.
Address the problem at its address 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 he and I were talking and the [hot] microphone was on me. I was literally trying to tell him that right now you could possibly be on the brink of something really special. In that statement I said Jailton is going to grab you. It’s not that dangerous of a fight. I should have said that to Tom better.’
Cormier further expressed his disappointment over the clip’s release: “Now I was a little angry that Tom and her released that, if I’m honest with you. I thought if you lean against someone and talk softly, that should remain a private conversation between you and the athlete.”
READ ALSO: Jon Jones Labels Tom Aspinall A Quitter As Six-Month-Old Unreleased Footage Comes To Life
👀😬 “I was a little angry about that” Daniel Cormier on Tom Aspinall releasing the private conversation about Jailton Almeida
“In that statement I said Jailton is going to wrestle you – it’s not as dangerous as a fight – and I could have said better… 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 Embedded would never do something like that.”
Daniel Cormier is feeling guilty for his comments about Jailton Almeida ahead of UFC 321
Despite his frustration, Cormier did not defend his comments about Almeida, but acknowledged that the Brazilian deserved more respect.
While his performance of landing just nine significant hits in a three-round fight despite more than 11 minutes of control time somewhat echoed Cormier’s initial assessment, the Hall of Famer admitted he regretted his words once they became public.
He concluded, “No matter what you say – whether it’s in jest or to be honest – Jailton Almeida deserves respect, and I respect him too. I feel bad. He’s been so nice to me since he came into the UFC, and I think Jailton Almeida is a great guy.”
Cormier did not confirm whether he had spoken privately to Aspinall about the matter. However, he did come in Aspinall’s post-UFC 321 vlogwhere the Englishman was visibly angry about the eye poke incident.
In the video, Cormier could be heard saying that the poke in the left eye was more brutal. It would be interesting to see how the UFC 321 debacle will affect the future of the heavyweight division in the coming months.
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