As UFC 321 approaches on Saturday, the heavyweight division is bracing for a showdown between reigning champion Tom Aspinall and former interim titleholder Ciryl Gane. While the spotlight is rightfully focused on the main event, a new viral video has added fuel to the fire. Daniel Cormier, speaking at media day, got caught on a hot mic talking about the current heavyweight division’s landscape with Tom Aspinall. DC’s reflection about how thin the division truly is has now sent shockwaves across the MMA community.

Daniel Cormier goes off on the heavyweight division

Daniel Cormier’s words were as blunt as they could get. “These matchups in this division, like, do you know what type of f—— run you can go on? It would be crazy. You can, like, change your life,” he told Aspinall, citing fighters such as Jailton Almeida and Alexander Volkov. According to Cormier, even the most difficult matches on paper in the current heavyweight scenario would be easily cleared by Aspinall, highlighting the massive potential that exists for the champion.

The former champion and broadcaster advised the Brit to persevere since opportunities like these “don’t come around very often.” The full context of Cormier’s advice highlighted both Tom Aspinall‘s rapid rise and the division’s flaws. “Bro, you’re on the verge of some crazy s—. Keep working hard,” Cormier added.

He drew parallels with his own career, comparing the opportunity to defend his title against Volkan Oezdemir in 2018 to winning the lottery. “It’s like when I got to fight Volkan (Oezdemir). I had to defend the belt against Volkan Oezdemir one time, man. Did I win the lottery, son? They were like, ‘Hey, we think we can get you to fight Volkan.’ I was like, ‘Yes! I’ll take it.'”

For the Briton, this moment could be a similar gateway to dominance, given that he maintains his focus and capitalizes on the current state of play. As ‘DC’ revealed how easy the path ahead is for the reigning champion, “Jailton Almeida is fighting (Volkov). Jailton can’t fight. (Even if Volkov wins), you beat him in the first round. It could get f—— crazy.”

And to be fair, Daniel Cormier isn’t wrong in believing so. The Wigan warrior has the quickest average fight time in UFC heavyweight history, at two minutes and two seconds, and the highest significant strikes per minute in the division. Interestingly, he has spent only one second on his back inside the Octagon, putting him far ahead of legendary grapplers such as Cormier and Cain Velasquez.

With such domination, it’s easy to understand why the former double champion is pressing Tom Aspinall to grab this unique opportunity. Still, Saturday’s fight against Ciryl Gane will be Aspinall’s first serious test at the undisputed level. The French striker has promised to push the champion into deeper waters, but for now, his grappling statistics suggest that the Brit will remain on top.

Even if Gane scores a takedown or two, Aspinall’s record bottom position rate of 0.09% is unlikely to change significantly. For Aspinall, UFC 321 is more than just a title defense; it’s an opportunity to turn Cormier’s observations into an exhibition of ultimate dominance. But with such grappling defense, many would be left wondering, what if there was a super-fight between prime ‘DC’ and Tom Aspinall? Well, the Briton has given an idea about how the fight would fare out.

Tom Aspinall gets candid on a fight against prime Daniel Cormier

Even as he prepares for UFC 321, Tom Aspinall spoke openly about a fantasy showdown with one of the sport’s all-time greats, Daniel Cormier. While his attention is on Ciryl Gane this weekend, the Wigan warrior admits that fighting Cormier in his prime would have been a formidable task. “I say it every time when I see DC. I think he is an absolute nightmare matchup for me.”

He further added, “He’s short, fit, and keeps coming at ya. He would have been very, very hard work for me. But I believe I have the power to knock anybody out.” Aspinall’s comments highlight his admiration for Cormier’s relentless wrestling, cardio, and striking, while also validating his own finishing abilities. Every UFC appearance of Aspinall’s, from Marcin Tybura to Sergei Pavlovich, has ended in a stoppage, emphasizing the threat he poses in the early rounds.

Nonetheless, he admits that an extended fight against a fighter like Cormier would have been a true test of stamina and flexibility. This real reflection gives fans a clear picture of Tom Aspinall’s mindset: he respects the legends while remaining confident in his explosive strength and skill. While a fight with Daniel Cormier will remain hypothetical, with Jon Anik even disagreeing with Aspinall’s take, UFC 321 provides an opportunity for Aspinall to solidify his position as one of the division’s elite heavyweights.