Fans were nearly treated to a revival of the intense UFC rivalry between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier.
Both celebrated athletes achieved the rare feat of becoming two-division champions in the UFC, and their mutual animosity during their peak years in the light heavyweight division was legendary.
Daniel Cormier faced Jon Jones for the light heavyweight championship on two occasions. Their first meeting took place at UFC 182, followed by a rematch at UFC 214 where Cormier held the title. Cormier suffered losses in both bouts. However, the result of the second fight was later changed from a TKO defeat to a no-contest after Jones tested positive for the banned substance Turinabol.
Jon Jones, who currently holds the UFC Heavyweight Championship and is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, once acknowledged Cormier as his most significant competitor and a source of motivation.
Years following the peak of their heated rivalry, a Russian reality television show that had previously featured Nate Diaz and Jones as coaches approached Cormier with an offer to participate.
Daniel Cormier Rejected Offer to Coach Against Jon Jones on Reality Show
In a recent statement, Cormier revealed that he had received an offer to serve as a coach opposite Jon Jones on a reality program called ‘ALF Reality,’ which is set in Thailand.
The format of this show is reportedly similar to the UFC`s long-running series ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ where aspiring fighters compete while being coached by famous athletes.
Given the involvement of his old rival, ‘Bones,’ Cormier ultimately chose not to accept the offer. The role was subsequently filled by Nate Diaz.
“I was offered to coach, against [Jones] prior, but I didn’t accept it,” Cormier stated on his YouTube channel.
Cormier has previous experience as a coach on ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ having coached against Stipe Miocic on TUF 27 in 2018 and, while retired, alongside Chael Sonnen for the upcoming TUF 33 season.
Inability to Fight Jon Jones Was a Deciding Factor for Cormier
Cormier has been absent from competitive mixed martial arts for nearly five years, with his last fight being his heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 252.
While a return to fighting was not part of the reality show proposal, the 46-year-old Cormier explained that he found it difficult to agree to a reunion scenario with Jon Jones, especially given their history of intense animosity.
“I can`t do a month in Thailand, opposite side Jon Jones,” Cormier added.
“Especially when I can`t fight that dude no more… He beat me when I was fighting. I can`t really fight today. I`m 46 years old. Like, come on, man.”
Regarding the offer to participate in the reality show with Jones, Cormier commented:
“I mean, I would do it for fun, but I`m not ready to spend a month in Thailand.”
Rupert Hartwell