Nearly a decade ago, in 2015, Jon Jones—then the dominant force at 205 lbs—spoke candidly about his heavyweight ambitions and his confidence in defeating Cain Velasquez. He declared, “I don’t know when I’m going to move up in weight. I’ve entertained the thought of going to heavyweight so many times…But if I do go to heavyweight or when I do go to heavyweight, I do believe I have the skill set to beat Cain [Velasquez].” The idea of a Jones vs. Velasquez showdown first gained traction in July 2013 when the two shared a stare-down during the UFC World Tour press.

Over the years, they exchanged multiple call-outs on social media, with ‘Bones’ eventually affirming, “My heavyweight days are inevitable.” However, before Jon Jones could officially step into the heavyweight division and settle the score with Cain Velasquez, the former two-time heavyweight champion retired from MMA to pursue his pro-wrestling dreams. Despite that, fans never stopped fantasizing about a dream fight between the two legends in their prime.

Despite this period being dominated by new faces, icons like Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar have remained evergreen in these “what-if” conversations which is why many still long for a generational clash between two stalwarts of their respective eras in the form of Jon Jones and a prime Cain Velasquez.

Now, with Tom Aspinall emerging as a top contender, the conversation was reignited when ‘Cardio Cain’ recently joined Tim Kennedy on YouTube. Kennedy asked the former heavyweight champion, “Are you looking at the heavyweight division now with Aspinall and Jon Jones? A prime Cain Velasquez—where do you sit with them?”

Velasquez, with his response seemingly ready, replied, “I think they’d be very, uh, close fights or exciting fights.” Later in the conversation, Kennedy predicted that Cain Velasquez would “run through” Tom Aspinall but admitted he hoped to see “a peak Jon Jones vs. a peak Cain Velasquez,” calling it “the greatest fight in heavyweight history.” The Salinas export agreed without hesitation, saying, “I think so too.” Both Jon Jones and ‘Cardio Cain’ have stacked their resumes with legendary victories.

Jones, standing tall at 6’4″, has long been a dominant force in MMA. While Velasquez, despite being a 6’1″ heavyweight often labeled as “undersized,” proved himself against the division’s most feared fighters. One of Cain Velasquez’s most defining moments came at UFC 121, where he dismantled Brock Lesnar to capture the UFC heavyweight title. However, his reign was cut short when Junior Dos Santos knocked him out just months later.

Undeterred, Velasquez returned with a vengeance, reclaiming his belt by delivering a brutal beatdown on Dos Santos nearly a year later. He went on to defend the title twice before falling to Fabricio Werdum at UFC 188. From there, injuries and setbacks hampered his career. His final bout ended in heartbreak, as Francis Ngannou knocked him out in under 30 seconds of the first round. Recognizing that his body could no longer endure the grind, ‘Cardio Cain’ made the difficult decision to retire, marking the end of an era in MMA.

Now, another heavyweight era is nearing its conclusion! Jon Jones is preparing for what may be his final fight, against Tom Aspinall. Last year, ‘Bones’ training partner, Ryan Gordon, revealed, “Jones started his last and final camp.” As the showdown with the Englishman approaches, Velasquez has weighed in with his own predictions for this monumental clash.

Cain Velasquez gave his prediction for the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall heavyweight clash

Dana White recently gave a timeline for the long-awaited Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall fight, expressing confidence that it will happen this summer. While the heavyweight division has been in a bit of a chokehold since 2023, with both a champion and an interim champion, the title remains disputed. Dana White and Co. have faced numerous challenges in making the unification happen, including tensions with ‘Bones’ as many view the Brit as a tough opponent due to his power and speed.

Despite these challenges, many believe Jones’ experience, fight IQ, resume, and cardio will carry him past Aspinall. Who better to weigh in on the fight than former two-time heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez? Earlier this year, ‘Cardio Cain’ spoke with Ariel Helwani and shared his thoughts on the Jones vs. Aspinall clash.

He pointed out the interim champ’s striking pattern, saying, “I don’t think [Aspinall beats Jones]. To me, just watching him, I kind of see his pattern a little bit in his striking, the way he comes in and strikes. I think Jon sees it too, so I think with that—just ‘cause, again, Jon 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 gonna know what to do. So, I don’t think he beats Jon, no.”

What do you think about Cain Velasquez’s prediction? If Jon Jones and ‘Cardio Cain’ were to face off, how do you think that fight would unfold? Do you believe Velasquez’s assessment of the Jones vs. Aspinall fight will hold true? Share your thoughts below!