Dominick Cruz believes Jon Jones would out-wrestle Tom Aspinall if they fought, despite the intrigue surrounding a potential matchup, as Jones is considered one of the greatest fighters with superior wrestling skills.
Dominick Cruz has some strong opinions on a hypothetical fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. Though the chance of this bout happening seems slim, the idea still intrigues fans. Jones might come back from retirement in 2026, while Aspinall holds the UFC heavyweight title. Despite the potential for a clash, Jones never showed interest in fighting Aspinall when he was interim champ.
Jones chose retirement, and Aspinall faced Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. Unfortunately, the fight ended abruptly due to an eye poke from Gane. Cruz, however, saw enough to question Aspinall’s chances against Jones.
On his “Love & War” podcast, Cruz shared his thoughts. “Watching Gane vs. Jones, I thought Aspinall would just take Gane down,” he said. Yet, Gane’s improved takedown defense surprised him. Cruz pondered whether Aspinall’s wrestling skills were overrated.
Cruz believes Jones would dominate Aspinall in wrestling. “Jones is one of the best wrestlers in MMA,” he stated. With his striking, length, and Greco-Roman skills, Jones could pose significant problems for Aspinall.
Jones is often hailed as one of the greatest fighters ever. His wrestling prowess has been key to many victories, including his UFC 285 win over Gane. A rematch with Gane seemed unlikely, but if he had beaten Aspinall, who knows?
Cruz expressed sympathy for Gane. “He looked ready, and maybe he could’ve had another shot at Jones,” Cruz said. He doesn’t blame the gloves or anything else—just the nature of MMA. Eye pokes and groin shots happen.
Cruz dismisses any notion that Aspinall quit after the eye poke. “That’s disappointing,” he remarked. Rumors suggest Aspinall might need eye surgery. Cruz defends him, saying, “This guy’s as tough as they come. We all are.”