Joe Rogan once described it Tom Aspinall as the next step in the evolution of heavyweights, touting 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 made it past the second round in his entire MMA career. His piston-like punches have flattened top prospects like Sergei Pavlovich, Alexander Volkov and Curtis Blaydes, showing just how dangerous he really is.
Despite his dominance, the Manchester native recently admitted there was one fighter from the past who would have been a nightmare for him. And it’s none other than former UFC doubles champion Daniel Cormier.
Tom Aspinall speaks highly of the 265-pound version of Daniel Cormier
During his prime, Cormier used his Olympic-level wrestling skills to silence critics and dominate his opponents. Despite being undersized at both 265 and 205 pounds, Cormier is still considered one of the greatest to ever enter the Octagon. Acknowledging these achievements, Aspinall recently shared his thoughts on how a match with a top-tier heavyweight version of Cormier would have played out.
In a recent one appearance on the ShxtsnGigs podcastsaid the reigning heavyweight champion: “Yeah, you know, Daniel Cormier. Peak DC has the worst style ever for me.”
He continued, “He’s a little guy – I said this to his face – a little guy who just keeps walking forward and changing levels between wrestling and punching. 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 would be a nightmare matchup at his peak😳
Tom Aspinall was asked if there is a fighter – current, retired, in or out of the UFC – that he thinks will definitely lose.
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 with Strikeforce, where he captured the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix title in 2011. His UFC journey could have unfolded very differently had he stayed at 265 pounds from the start.
However, training with then-heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez saw him drop down to 205 pounds, where he dominated in the absence of Jon Jones. Cormier eventually returned to heavyweight and made history at UFC 226 by knocking out Stipe Miocic to become only the second fighter in UFC history to hold two belts simultaneously.
READ ALSO: Daniel Cormier believes Alex Pereira will become the MMA GOAT if he beats Jon Jones
Given the list of elite fighters Cormier has defeated during his career, it’s no surprise that Aspinall holds the Olympic pinnacle in such high regard. While a confrontation between the two may remain only a fantasy, Aspinall’s reality is just as compelling.
The Englishman returns to the Octagon after almost 15 months away to defend his heavyweight crown for the first time against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. After being upgraded to undisputed status after UFC Baku earlier this year, Aspinall now looks to usher in a new era at 265 pounds following the retirement of Jon Jones.
The big question remains: will Aspinall continue his reign, or will Gane finally capture gold in his third attempt?
#Tom #Aspinall #names #Prime #Minister #Daniel #Cormier #ultimate #stylistic #nightmare #MMASucka