Daniel Cormier has revealed that Jon Jones declined a seven-figure offer to compete against him in a wrestling match. Cormier was unequivocal on the matter, stating flatly that Jones will not accept the challenge.
Daniel Cormier has revealed that Jon Jones turned down a seven-figure offer to face him in a wrestling match, with Cormier making clear he does not expect Jones to accept the challenge under any circumstances.
Cormier, 47, retired from MMA with a professional record of 22-3-0 and built much of his combat sports identity on an elite wrestling base. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, "DC" was among the most accomplished grapplers to compete at light heavyweight and heavyweight, averaging 1.83 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. His history with Jones is one of the most storied rivalries in UFC history, spanning multiple fights and years of personal animosity.
Jones, 38, holds a 28-1-0 MMA record and is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters the sport has produced. At six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, "Bones" is a physical outlier who also carries genuine wrestling credentials, averaging 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career. Despite that grappling pedigree, Cormier states flatly that Jones declined what would have been a substantial financial opportunity to settle a portion of their rivalry on the mat.
Why it matters
- The rejection closes the door, at least for now, on a high-profile wrestling match between two of MMA's most recognizable names
- Both fighters built championship careers in overlapping weight classes, giving any head-to-head contest significant symbolic weight
- Cormier's public disclosure of the seven-figure offer adds pressure on Jones to explain or respond to the decision
