This iconic rivalry will never really die.
Former bitter rivals Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier recently reunited as opposing coaches on Alf Reality, a Russian The Ultimate Fighter-style knockoff show filmed
in Thailand. Surprisingly, the experience wasn’t nearly as toxic as their UFC history might suggest . The two former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions were mostly cordial — but beneath the surface, the competitive fire never faded.
Cormier detailed the experience in a new YouTube video released today.
“A few months ago, I received a text message from a number I didn’t recognize,” Cormier explained. “I open WhatsApp and see a video. First thing that pops up is a Russian guy, then he pans over, and it’s Jon Jones. Look, you guys know the one thing I always want to do is compete against Jon Jones. If there’s one thing he’s learned over the years, it’s that if you challenge me, I’m going to respond — and Jon Jones challenged me.”
According to Cormier, Jones invited him to Thailand to coach opposite him on ALF Reality Global, joking that maybe Cormier could finally “get one” over him.
Cormier agreed, believing it would be an MMA-based competition. Instead, it turned out to be boxing with MMA gloves — and chaos quickly followed.
“I will tell you this without telling you what happened on the show,” Cormier said. “It is as wild a show as i’ve ever been involved with in my entire life. I’ve never done or been around anything like this. It is crazy some of the things that happen over the course of the show.”
Despite moments of mutual respect, the underlying tension between Jones and Cormier never disappeared.
“At times it is cordial and a lot of the time we’re just arguing the whole time,” Cormier said. “We just argue. It is just what happens whenever we’re around each other…there were multiple occasions where Jones and I argued about fighting each other in a boxing match, to which I agreed to do if it is just boxing. But the one that caught fire the most was the wrestling thing.”
With Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAF) emerging as a legitimate platform for high-profile matches, Cormier has increasingly pushed the idea of a grappling showdown. He reiterated that stance this week, confidently predicting a lopsided outcome.
“We gotta do something,” Cormier said. “Now, the idea that Jon Jones and I would wrestle a match, like literally get into a wrestling stance — he knows…I don’t understand how this idea that I could lose a wrestling match is out there, but I guess we can find out. And guess what? I’m not the only one talking about a wrestling match between Jon Jones and I, I’m just the one doing it publicly. Stay tuned because if he steps on that line, I’m tech-falling him 10-0.”
A Jones vs. Cormier boxing match? Hard pass.
A wrestling match?
Sign everyone up.
