A grappling match between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier is reportedly being explored. No further details on timing or format have been confirmed.
A grappling match between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier is reportedly being explored, according to unconfirmed reports circulating as of early June 2026. No details on timing, format, or promotion have been announced, and the matchup should be considered a rumour at this stage.
Jones, nicknamed "Bones," carries a 28-1-0 professional record and remains one of the most decorated fighters in MMA history. The 38-year-old orthodox fighter stands six-foot-four with an extraordinary 84-inch reach — 213 centimetres — giving him one of the longest wingspans in heavyweight competition. Over his career he has averaged 4.38 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent striking accuracy rate, while also contributing on the mat with 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Cormier, known as "DC," holds a 22-3-0 record across a career that spanned two UFC divisions. Now 47 years old, the five-foot-eleven orthodox fighter carries a 72-inch reach and built his reputation as a relentless pressure wrestler and grappler. He averaged 4.25 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and his 1.83 takedowns per 15 minutes reflect the wrestling base that defined his competitive identity.
Why it matters
- Jones and Cormier fought twice inside the Octagon, making any further competition between them a major attraction for combat sports fans
- A pure grappling format would remove striking from the equation and place both men on the discipline where Cormier built much of his reputation
- At 47, Cormier's age relative to the 38-year-old Jones adds an additional layer of intrigue to the physical matchup
- No sanctioning body, ruleset, or date has been confirmed, leaving the scope and legitimacy of the reported discussions entirely open
