Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones turned down 7-figure offer to wrestle, ‘He will not do it’

Daniel Cormier claims Jon Jones rebuffed a lucrative seven-figure offer to compete against him in a wrestling or grappling match, saying Jones fears losing to his former rival.

Cormier and Jones share one of the UFC's most storied feuds, dating back over a decade. Jones won both their championship fights in the octagon, though the second result was later overturned to a no-contest following Jones's positive test for a banned substance. Even years later, both men have continued to monetize their rivalry, most recently by coaching opposite sides on the Russian reality show ALF earlier this year.

That recent appearance sparked fresh talk of a crossover match. According to Cormier, an unnamed organization approached both fighters with a seven-figure purse for a six-minute wrestling bout, but Jones declined. "He will not do it," Cormier stated on his YouTube channel, claiming Jones knows he would lose decisively—a technical fall 10-0. When Cormier pivoted to proposing a grappling match under points-based scoring, Jones allegedly agreed only to submission-only rules, effectively killing the deal.

Cormier interpreted this as Jones's unwillingness to risk competition where he might lose. "He won't compete with me in anything he thinks there's a chance that he'd lose in," Cormier concluded.

Meanwhile, Jones's recent career trajectory has been equally puzzling. After defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 to claim the heavyweight title, he was set to unify against Tom Aspinall but instead retired. A subsequent comeback bid against Alex Pereira stalled after Jones revealed severe hip arthritis. He has since hinted at remaining interested in a return to competition, though no firm timeline has emerged.