Some rivalries never truly fade, and few in MMA history exemplify that better than Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier. Despite their legendary feud seemingly ending years ago after two title fights at UFC 182 and UFC 214, countless verbal exchanges, and a host of controversies, the animosity between the former champions continues to linger. The latest chapter emerged when discussions surfaced about a potential wrestling match between the longtime rivals.
For the unversed, Jones and Cormier recently served as opposing coaches on the third season of the Russian MMA reality show ALF, reigniting interest in one of the UFC’s most iconic rivalries. Their renewed interactions even sparked conversations about a possible showdown under the Real American Freestyle banner.
According to Cormier, however, a wrestling match between the two was explored for later this year before ultimately falling apart. During a recent Q&A session, the former two-division UFC champion claimed that a lucrative offer had been presented to both men, but Jones declined to move forward with the matchup.
Cormier revealed, “It wouldn’t be in RAF because they can’t afford to pay it, but there’s an organization that offered us both seven figures for a six-minute match. He will not do it.”
DC doubled down on his claim, insisting that he was willing to compete and believed he would dominate the contest if it ever took place. He said, “But there’s an organization that offered us both seven figures for a six-minute match. He will not do it. I’m telling you, he will not do it. I’m not lying. I went through the negotiations, and I said, ‘If he wrestles me, I’ll do it. But it’s going to be 10-0. I’m going to tech him.’ But unfortunately, he knows it’s going to be 10-0, so he won’t do it.”
‼️DC says he was supposed to wrestle Jon Jones for 7-figures but Jones didn’t want it
“there’s an organization that offered us both 7 figures for a 6 minute match. Jon Jones will not do it.
He knows it’s gonna be 10-0, so he won’t do it”
via @dc_mma pic.twitter.com/0PJywdWVaK
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) July 1, 2026
After the proposed wrestling match failed to materialize, Cormier revealed that he attempted to find common ground by suggesting a grappling contest instead. According to the UFC Hall of Famer, those discussions also hit a dead end due to disagreements over the ruleset.
He said, “So then I said, ‘How about we do a grappling match?’ He said no, only submissions. I said, ‘Why don’t we do points, right, where we win? I don’t want to be tied at the end.’ ‘No points, only submissions.’ So he won’t do it. He won’t compete with me in anything he thinks there’s a chance that he’d lose in. So, give up on the Jon Jones thing. He’s not going to do it.”
Cormier did not identify the promotion during the Q&A session, but he had previously discussed the offer in a separate video earlier in June. The organization in question appears to be PWL, founded by ALF Global creator Alfredo Auditore. Last month, Auditore fueled speculation by posting an Instagram story claiming that negotiations between both camps were nearing completion and that fans could soon see the long-awaited matchup become a reality.
For many fans, the situation feels familiar. Jones’ lengthy reign as UFC heavyweight champion was often accompanied by prolonged negotiations and uncertainty surrounding his next move. That uncertainty only intensified in the months leading up to his retirement, which UFC CEO Dana White officially announced at UFC Baku last year.
Daniel Cormier says him and Jon Jones have been offered SEVEN FIGURES for a wrestling match, but Jon Jones won’t accept it 😬
He says Jones wants a submission-only grappling match instead
(via @dc_mma) pic.twitter.com/l1QYMEZNak https://t.co/B3wLivTqx7
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 5, 2026
Since then, Jones has repeatedly expressed interest in returning to MMA and has publicly pushed for a comeback fight. However, a highly discussed heavyweight showdown against Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 never materialized, leaving his future in combat sports unclear.
While there is still no official word on Jones’ return to active competition, he is set to be in the corner of Gable Steveson at UFC 329 when the Olympic gold medalist makes his long-awaited Octagon debut. As for a third chapter in the storied Jones-Cormier rivalry, it appears as distant as ever, with the chances of either a wrestling match or another competitive meeting currently looking slim.
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