TLDR
- Jon Jones challenged Daniel Cormier to a wrestling match during ALF Reality 3, a Russian reality show
- Cormier declined the challenge, saying he would need more money to participate
- Jones called Cormier a ‘little crybaby’ while Cormier said Jones is ‘in love with me’
- One of Cormier’s Russian fighters replaced him and successfully took down Jones in the wrestling match
- The exchange shows the longtime UFC rivals’ feud remains active despite both moving on from their fighting careers
Sources: sports.yahoo.com | mmafighting.com | mmanews.com
Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier clashed again during filming for ALF Reality 3, a Russian reality show similar to The Ultimate Fighter. The confrontation happened when Jones challenged Cormier to a wrestling match as part of a segment on the show.
Cormier, a former two-weight UFC champion, refused the challenge. “I’m not grappling. Money, more money,” Cormier said in response to Jones calling him out.
Jones reacted harshly to the rejection. “So Daniel Cormier, being a little crybaby b—-, ends up saying ‘Oh, we need to make this right,'” Jones said after Cormier declined.
Cormier mocked Jones for his persistence in wanting to compete against him. “This guy’s in love with me,” Cormier said. “He wants to touch me. He’s in love with me.”
Daniel Cormier refused to wrestle Jon Jones after he called him a “little crybaby b*tch” 👀😬
“You’re in love with me, you just wanna touch me. You’ve touched me enough in your life. You will never put your hands on me.” pic.twitter.com/iyAd1Cd1gu
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) April 9, 2026
Fighter Replaces Cormier in Wrestling Match
When the wrestling match failed to happen between the two coaches, Cormier proposed his own solution. One of his Russian fighters offered to replace him in the match against Jones.
Cormier expressed confidence his fighter would win despite being much smaller than Jones. “I’m killing him in wrestling,” Cormier shouted. “Look at his stance!”
The prediction proved accurate. Cormier’s fighter grabbed Jones’ lead leg, lifted him in the air, and dropped him on the canvas for a takedown.
The exchange between Jones and Cormier showed their rivalry remains heated despite earlier signs of calmer interaction. Earlier episodes of the show suggested tensions had eased between the two coaches.
History of the Jones-Cormier Rivalry
The feud between Jones and Cormier dates back years and includes two blockbuster fights in the UFC. Jones defeated Cormier twice, though one win was later overturned to a no-contest.
Their rivalry became one of the most intense in UFC history, featuring heated exchanges and public confrontations. Time has not fully resolved the tensions between the two fighters.
Jones currently holds the UFC heavyweight title but announced his MMA retirement last year. He has mentioned interest in competing against Cormier in either Real American Freestyle wrestling or boxing.
Cormier transitioned from active competition to commentary and analysis roles. The 47-year-old is a two-time Olympic wrestler and was an All-American in college before his MMA career.
Jones competed in junior college wrestling before focusing on mixed martial arts. He previously stated arthritis issues might force him to undergo hip replacement surgery, which could prevent future wrestling matches.
The show was filmed in Thailand with Jones and Cormier serving as opposing coaches. Neither fighter has issued additional public statements about the exchange beyond what appears in the ALF Reality footage.
Jones experienced a fallout with UFC CEO Dana White over his exclusion from a White House card. It remains unclear if Jones will return to active competition following his retirement announcement.
