TLDR
- Daniel Cormier believes Jon Jones deliberately leaked information about his severe hip arthritis through an influencer
- Cormier says the leaked video convinced him that Jones ‘doesn’t have anything left’ athletically
- Jones revealed he needs a hip replacement, which was captured in a recording made with Meta glasses at a Dirty Boxing show
- Cormier questions how Jones could have missed the visible recording light on Meta glasses during the conversation
- UFC president Dana White set odds of Jones fighting at the White House card at ‘a billion to one’
Sources: CBS Sports | MMA Mania | MMA Fighting | Bloody Elbow
Daniel Cormier believes his longtime rival Jon Jones intentionally leaked news about severe hip injuries that could end his fighting career. Cormier says the leaked video convinced him that Jones “doesn’t have anything left” athletically.
Jones recently revealed he needs a hip replacement after developing severe arthritis. The information became public after a fan allegedly recorded Jones with Meta glasses during a private conversation at a Dirty Boxing show.
Cormier shared his thoughts on the situation Tuesday on his YouTube channel. He questioned whether Jones was truly unaware of being recorded.
“It’s hard to hide that you’re being recorded with Meta glasses if you’re in close proximity with the person that is using the glasses,” Cormier said. “When you’ve been in the public eye, you build this almost sixth sense as to when people are recording you.”
Daniel Cormier: ‘Jon Jones doesn’t have anything left’https://t.co/tZgOWCb9Cv
— MMAWeekly (@MMAWeeklycom) February 12, 2026
Questions About the Recording
Cormier pointed out that Meta glasses have a visible white light that turns on when recording starts. He found it hard to believe Jones would miss such an obvious sign.
“I believe information like that, if it’s that close to the vest, you don’t share it with some random [person] either,” Cormier said. “I don’t know that anything he does isn’t intended to be taken in the way that it’s taken.”
Cormier thinks Jones wanted the information to become public in exactly this way. “I think Jon Jones knew what he was doing,” he said. “I think he wanted people to know that he’s injured, and I think that’s exactly the way that he wanted it to happen by giving it to an influencer.”
Jones disclosed his condition when asked about a potential Real American Freestyle wrestling match between the longtime UFC rivals. Cormier questioned why Jones would share closely-guarded health information with a stranger.
Injuries Are Real Despite Doubts About Leak
While Cormier doubts the leak was accidental, he believes the injuries themselves are legitimate. He thinks Jones is truly dealing with career-ending health problems.
“I believe Jon Jones is hurt,” Cormier said. “I believe Jon Jones really is dealing with injuries from a long, sustained career in combat sports.”
Cormier explained that years of knees, elbows, kicks, and wrestling take a toll on any athlete’s body. He said the video made him believe Jones truly has nothing left athletically.
“That was the video that made me believe that Jon Jones doesn’t have anything left in that regard,” Cormier said. “There will be no wrestling match between he and I.”
Cormier doesn’t think Jones’ body can hold up through training for a wrestling match. He told fans to prepare for Jones’ departure from combat sports.
“I think people should now start to get ready for a day when they don’t have Jones in fighting,” Cormier said. “I don’t think you’re going to have him much longer in this sport.”
Jones briefly retired from MMA in June after vacating the UFC heavyweight title. He later changed course to campaign for a fight at UFC’s upcoming White House card.
UFC president Dana White set the odds of Jones fighting on that card at “a billion to one.” Jones stayed optimistic for a while but eventually accepted it likely wouldn’t happen.
Cormier believes Jones is coming to terms with the end of his career. “In real time, we’re watching him come to the acceptance that it’s over,” he said. “You can see it. You can see him accepting ‘I might be done.'”
Jones and Cormier fought twice in MMA, with both fighters being former two-division champions. Jones won the first fight by unanimous decision. Their rematch was originally a knockout win for Jones but was overturned to a no-contest after Jones tested positive for banned substances.
The two rivals are now reigniting their feud as coaches on the Russian reality series ALF MMA. Jones turns 39 in July and has 30 professional fights on his record.
