Daniel Cormier isn’t ready to let go of the Jon Jones feud just yet! Their last battle inside the Octagon unfolded at UFC 214 in 2017, and Cormier has since moved on to a career behind the microphone. Yet, even now, when the cage is no longer an option, the thought of being face-to-face with ‘Bones’ has stirred up the same fire that consumed their rivalry.

Recently, a new opportunity surfaced for the two men to share a coaching role on the Russian MMA reality show, ‘ALF Reality’. Set to take place in Thailand, the show has often drawn comparisons to the UFC’s flagship program, ‘The Ultimate Fighter’. But the former ‘champ-champ’ turned it down emphatically. Why? Let’s dive in.

Daniel Cormier is not interested in spending a “month in Thailand” with Jon Jones

According to a statement made by Daniel Cormier on his YouTube channel, shared on Instagram by ‘Championship Rounds’, he confessed, “I was offered to coach, against [Jones] prior, but I didn’t accept it.” Now 46, Cormier hasn’t fought since his 2020 loss to Stipe Miocic at UFC 252. But the fire still burns, especially when Jon Jones’ name comes up. That’s why even a coaching gig across from ‘Bones’ felt like stepping into emotional quicksand.

He further confessed, “I can’t do a month in Thailand, opposite side Jon Jones. 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.”

And there it was, the proof that the Louisiana native may have hung up his gloves, but the sparks from the rivalry are still lingering. Jones beat Cormier twice inside the Octagon, once at UFC 182, again at UFC 214. The second win was overturned to a ‘No Contest’ in the record books after Jones tested positive for a banned substance after the fight. Still, for Cormier, that erasure seemingly didn’t wipe away the frustration.

He even joked, “I mean, I would do it for fun, but I’m not ready to spend a month in Thailand.” And who can blame him? The prospect of sitting across from the one man who beat you twice, halfway across the world, for a month isn’t exactly appealing. And now reportedly, the show has moved on to another name, Nate Diaz.

Yes, the same ‘Stockton Legend’ will now coach against Jones on ‘ALF Reality’ instead. So while they may not have the same intensity and history between them as Jones and Cormier, the show has the potential to be a must-watch for hardcore fans. And the feud between Cormier and ‘Bones’? Well, it’s now spilled over into the GOAT debate as well!

Cormier refuses to hand over ‘GOAT’ crown to Jones for one simple reason

Is Jon Jones the MMA GOAT? That question gets thrown around at every UFC-related discussion eventually, but if you ask Daniel Cormier, you’ll get a blunt response.

At a UFC 312 Q&A, Cormier didn’t dodge the subject but addressed it head-on. He confessed, “You really can’t deny his greatness, right? Look at what he has done.” He even acknowledged Jones’ journey through three distinct eras of fighters, from the Lyoto Machida days to the current crop of stars inside the Octagon.

But that’s when the compliments stopped and the truth kicked in. Cormier went off as he stated, “So yeah, of course he’s one of the greatest fighters of all time. But when you do dirty sh—, you don’t get to be called the greatest of all time.”

For him, it’s not just about wins. It’s about how you got them. And when your record includes failed drug tests, like Jones’ 2017 scandal after UFC 214 or the earlier positive tests in 2016, it stains the story, no matter how dominant the chapters are. He even admitted that the infamous head kick from Jones at UFC 214 was ‘the hardest strike’ he ever absorbed, but the legacy debate is more than just highlight reels.

So here we are, years removed from their last clash, yet the shadow of Jon Jones still looms large over Daniel Cormier’s legacy, and vice versa. Even now, coaching on a reality show opposite Jon Jones felt like too much. Too many memories. And perhaps, too little closure. So, is greatness measured by dominance alone? Or does how you get there matter just as much? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!