TLDR
- Kamaru Usman publicly challenged Daniel Cormier’s claim that he would dominate Jon Jones in a wrestling match
- Usman warned that fans and analysts ‘sleep on’ Jon Jones’ wrestling abilities and physical advantages
- The debate centers on a hypothetical wrestling-only matchup between former rivals Cormier and Jones
- Usman emphasized Jones’ unique physical tools, length, and fight IQ as major factors
- The discussion revives the long-standing rivalry between Cormier and Jones from their UFC days
Sources: MMA News Aggregator | MMA Junkie (syndicated summary) | GiveMeSport
Kamaru Usman has pushed back against Daniel Cormier’s recent claim that he would dominate Jon Jones in a wrestling-only contest. The former welterweight champion warned that people underestimate Jones’ abilities on the mat.
Usman made his comments during a recent appearance on a show, where he addressed Cormier’s confidence about beating Jones in pure grappling. “People sleep on Jon,” Usman said, referring to Jones’ often-overlooked wrestling skills.
Physical Advantages Give Jones the Edge
The Nigerian Nightmare stressed that Jones’ unique physical tools would create serious problems for anyone, including an Olympic wrestler like Cormier. Jones stands 6’4″ with an 84.5-inch reach, giving him exceptional length and leverage advantages.
Usman pointed to Jones’ fight IQ as another critical factor that people tend to overlook. Throughout his UFC career, Jones has consistently used his athleticism and tactical mind to neutralize elite wrestlers.
Cormier, an Olympic wrestling alternate and former two-division UFC champion, has previously stated he would handle Jones easily in a wrestling-only setting. The two legends fought twice in the octagon, with Jones winning both contests.
Kamaru Usman says Jon Jones has a chance against Daniel Cormier in a wrestling match: 🤼👀
“I’ve watched Jon Jones decide, ‘I’m gonna wrestle,’ and when he decided to wrestle, he made people look bad. This man is just a freak athletic talent.”
pic.twitter.com/L2gYKQn092— CB Sport (@theCBsport) January 8, 2026
Their first fight took place at UFC 182 in January 2015, where Jones won by unanimous decision. The second bout happened at UFC 214 in July 2017, with Jones winning by knockout in the third round.
However, the second fight result was later overturned to a no contest after Jones tested positive for a banned substance. The controversial rivalry between Cormier and Jones remains one of the most heated in UFC history.
Hypothetical Wrestling Match Sparks Debate
The debate over a pure wrestling matchup between the two has resurfaced periodically since their fighting days. Cormier achieved an accomplished wrestling career before transitioning to MMA, competing at the highest international levels.
Jones wrestled at the collegiate level at Iowa Central Community College before turning to mixed martial arts. While his wrestling credentials are less decorated than Cormier’s, Jones has consistently shut down elite grapplers throughout his UFC career.
Usman’s comments add weight to the argument that Jones would be more competitive in a wrestling match than many expect. The former pound-for-pound king has used his wrestling defensively to great effect against Olympic-level opponents.
Cormier currently works as a UFC commentator and analyst, while Jones holds the UFC heavyweight championship. Jones most recently defended his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024.
Usman himself is a decorated wrestler, having competed at the University of Nebraska before his MMA career. His perspective carries credibility given his own high-level grappling background and experience competing against elite fighters.
The former welterweight champion emphasized that while Cormier’s credentials are impressive, Jones’ combination of size, athleticism, and intelligence would make any wrestling match highly competitive. Usman believes the hypothetical matchup would be much closer than Cormier suggests.
