Daniel Cormier took to YouTube to clarify the ongoing negotiations around a potential wrestling or grappling match with Jon Jones. In a recent episode, he stated that serious money has been offered but that Jones has repeatedly declined.
Cormier laid out the situation bluntly, explaining that attempts are still being made behind the scenes to get something signed.
“They are trying to make a wrestling match come together. He won’t do it. He will not wrestle,” he said. “The amount of money that has been offered to us to do the wrestling matches, seven figures to wrestle. You tell me to wrestle for that, I’m in all day to do a wrestling match.”
He went on to suggest that Jones is specifically avoiding a straight wrestling contest because of how he believes it would play out.
“I know I’m going to beat him 10-0, but he also knows I’m going to beat him 10-0. That’s why he will not wrestle me,” Cormier said, pointing to his Olympic background. “When I was on the Olympic team two times, I didn’t just forget how to wrestle.”
Cormier then broke down how negotiations shifted when different rule sets were discussed for a grappling match, describing a back-and-forth over format and time limits.
“Then the stipulations start. It’s 10 minutes. Okay. Let’s do 8 minutes. Then it’s me going, I want to wrestle. If we’re going to do anything, let’s wrestle. You’re a wrestler. I’m a wrestler. You said you could beat me. You can take me out. Let’s do that. No, let’s grapple. 10 minutes. Let’s make that 8 minutes. Okay. Let’s do submission only. No, no, no. Let’s do a match where we do points. Let’s make sure that after the 8 minutes are done, we know who won.”
He also explained why he ultimately rejected a submission-only format, saying it didn’t align with how he believes the match should be judged.
“Only if it’s submissions only. No scores. Why? Scores would make it look too much like a wrestling match. That’s why I said no, not going to do it.”
Cormier acknowledged his own expectations about the likelihood of finishing Jones, but emphasized control and dominance as his preferred measure of success.
“I probably won’t submit him. I probably will not submit Jon Jones. I don’t believe I can… But I do know that if I get him on the ground and I have to ride him and control him, I can do that,” he said.
“But if I take him down and I ride him and control him for eight minutes and then we get up and they pick up both of our hands, what’s the point?”
He closed by reiterating that while negotiations are still technically active, he doesn’t expect the match to materialize unless the financial terms remain significant.
“Don’t get your hopes up. Alfredo is not lying. He’s telling you the truth. He is trying to work behind the scenes, but now it’s not happening because he just won’t do it. But if you’re going to pay me seven figures to wrestle against Jon Jones, I’m in.”
