Daniel Cormier has strong message for Jon Jones over heavyweight future

Daniel Cormier thinks Jones would be 'quitting' if he retires without fighting Aspinall

Former Jones rival Daniel Cormier believes the heavyweight champion would be 'quitting' if he walks away without fighting Aspinall.

"Jon Jones would get to retire from fighting, but if he doesn't fight this guy, then that's just him quitting," Cormier explained. "There's one real fight for him and he's not so old and washed up that he can't take it."

Cormier also said if he were champion, he'd have fought Aspinall by now. The longer Jones holds onto the belt, the harder it'll be to say he retired with his legacy intact.

Nearly 200,000 fans have signed a petition to strip the champion . In the meantime, Jones is now calling out Francis Ngannou, which only serves to stir the pot. Although Aspinall has explained he has a fight lined up, he can't talk about it.

Perhaps Jones is playing hardball with the fight. Or, he's ready to step down, and Aspinall will fight another contender for the undisputed throne.