Cain Velasquez, a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion, remains a respected voice in mixed martial arts. Known for his dominant performances during his prime, Velasquez is admired for his insights into the sport.
Cain Velasquez Discusses Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall
Recently, during an appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show, he shared his thoughts on a potential fight between current UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall.
Velasquez noted that Jones’s experience and ability to adapt make him an exceptionally tough opponent. Jones has consistently demonstrated his dominance, even as he has moved into the heavyweight division. His recent victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 was another example of his tactical brilliance, as he defeated the veteran with a well-timed body attack. Velasquez believes these qualities will give Jones the upper hand against Aspinall.
“What he’s been doing, great,” Velasquez told Ariel Helwani about Aspinall. “Champion of the world, amazing. He’s beaten some tough guys to get there. I see what you’re saying [about similarities to me], as far as the body type, the movement, the speed, the striking, the strength that he has. So it’s great, man. It’s just great stuff. For me, it’s the matchups. The matchups are what make everything interesting.”
While Aspinall has drawn comparisons to Velasquez due to his versatile skill set, Velasquez pointed out that Aspinall may struggle against an experienced and unpredictable fighter like Jones. According to Velasquez, Jones has mastered the art of adjusting his approach in real-time, making it difficult for opponents to find openings.
“No, I don’t think he [beats Jon Jones],” Velasquez said of Aspinall. “Me just watching him, I kind of see his pattern a little bit, and his striking, the way he comes in and strikes. I think Jon sees it too. I think with that, just because, again, Jon, he studies, man. He does his homework. He’s a master at this. He analyzes things. He studies you over and over again. I think just for that reason, he’s going to know what to do. So I don’t think [Aspinall] beats Jon.
“Everybody has a fight pattern, right?,” Velasquez added. “Some people disguise it better than others. The simple fact is the way Tom comes in and fights, he does have a pattern that’s somewhat easier to find. He comes in and strikes.
“And I think you know what we’re talking about a lot of things come with that. It’s disguising your pattern. It’s throwing fakes here and there before. But when he comes in to attack, he comes in and attacks. It’s 100% full go. He comes in, glides in, lunges in and does his attack. Again, not that it’s not effective, it is. He’s done great things with it. But I think with the type of guy that Jon Jones is, I think he studies him, and he beats him because of that.”
Outside of the octagon, Velasquez has been actively involved in the MMA community. He is set to take on a leadership role with the Global Fight League, a new organization launching soon. Alongside his longtime coach Javier Mendez, Velasquez will manage the Dubai team. This venture represents a new chapter for Velasquez, who retired from professional fighting in 2019.
However, Velasquez’s journey has also been marked by legal challenges. In 2022, he was involved in an incident where he pursued and allegedly shot at a vehicle carrying Harry Goularte, who is accused of abusing Velasquez’s son. The incident led to several charges, including attempted murder and assault. Velasquez has pleaded no contest and is awaiting sentencing. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Despite these difficulties, Velasquez remains committed to his role in MMA. As the UFC heavyweight division continues to evolve, his insights offer valuable perspective. With a potential Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall fight on the horizon, Velasquez’s analysis adds depth to the discussion about what could be one of the most exciting matchups in the sport’s history.
