Jon Jones Rejects Seven-Figure Wrestling Offer from Daniel Cormier

The long-standing rivalry between mixed martial arts legends Daniel CormierPlayer·Daniel Cormier and Jon JonesPlayer·Jon Jones has once again taken center stage, with Cormier asserting that Jones rejected a substantial seven-figure offer for a six-minute wrestling match. This revelation comes after the two former UFCCompetition·UFC champions rekindled their animosity earlier this year as opposing coaches on the Russian MMA reality show, ALFCompetition·ALF.

According to Daniel CormierPlayer·Daniel Cormier, an unnamed organization presented both athletes with a significant financial incentive for a pure wrestling contest. This offer was distinct from Real American FreestyleCompetition·Real American Freestyle (RAF), a nascent wrestling promotion that Cormier suggested would be unable to afford such a sum. Cormier, a decorated collegiate wrestler, believes Jones's refusal stems from an apprehension of a decisive loss in a points-based format.

"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," Daniel Cormier stated during a Q&A session on his YouTube channel. He further elaborated on his conviction, asserting, "I know as a fact I will beat him 10-0. At 47 years old, if we do a wrestling match, I'm going to beat him 10-0." Cormier concluded that Jones's awareness of this potential outcome is the primary reason for his reluctance.

Following the rejection of the wrestling proposal, Cormier revealed he attempted to pivot to a grappling match. However, Jones reportedly insisted on a submission-only format, explicitly without a points system. Cormier declined this counter-offer, indicating that a points system was essential for a clear winner, a format Jones appeared to be avoiding.

Their storied animosity, widely regarded as one of the most intense in UFCCompetition·UFC history, saw Jones emerge victorious in their two previous MMA encounters, though one was later overturned to a no-contest due to a failed drug test. Despite both athletes having retired from active MMA competition—Cormier in August 2020 and Jones in 2025 after defeating Stipe MiocicPlayer·Stipe Miocic at UFCCompetition·UFC 309 in November 2024—the prospect of a third contest, even in a different discipline, continues to captivate fans.

Jones has previously expressed a willingness to return for a special bout against Alex PereiraPlayer·Alex Pereira, but recent reports of severe hip arthritis cast a shadow over any potential return to competitive action. The fundamental disagreement over the ruleset, with Cormier advocating for a points-based wrestling match and Jones preferring submission-only grappling, appears to be the primary obstacle preventing this highly anticipated clash from materializing, leaving a significant financial opportunity unfulfilled for both parties.