Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones may not be at each other’s throats anymore. But promotions like the Russian version of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ are ready to cash in on their storied history. The promotion brought back the duo, placing Jones and Cormier on opposite teams as coaches. While fans were growing accustomed to that, Cormier dropped another bomb.

Speaking with Ben Askren on his YouTube channel, ‘DC’ suggested that Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling could one day host a legitimate wrestling match between him and Jones. “I’m gonna kick his a—, like you would never believe,” Cormier declared. Now, Islam Makhachev, one of Cormier’s closest friends, has weighed in with his honest take on the potential showdown.

Daniel Cormier will have the upper hand, says Islam Makhachev

Speaking to MMA Arena, Islam Makhachev weighed in on the perennial Daniel Cormier–Jon Jones debate, suggesting that ‘DC’ would still hold a clear edge if the contest turned into a wrestling battle. “You know, it’s a confrontation where only in wrestling Cormier can pull Jon Jones,” Makhachev said. “Jon Jones is a good fighter, but wrestling is Cormier’s specialty. And this guy is an Olympic champion.”

Makhachev’s take carries added weight given his friendship with Cormier. The two have shared countless training sessions over the years, making Makhachev well aware of how sharp ‘DC’ remains at 46. Cormier’s resume backs that claim: a 2007 World Championship bronze medalist, four-time U.S. World Team member, 2003 Pan American Games gold medalist, and six-time U.S. National Champion.

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Cormier and Jones have crossed paths twice inside the Octagon, with both encounters ending badly for Cormier. At UFC 182 in 2015, Jones defended his light heavyweight title via unanimous decision. They ran it back at UFC 214 in 2018, where Jones scored another victory, which was later overturned after Jones tested positive for banned substances.

While a third fight remains speculative, Cormier has revealed what it’s like being around Jones these days. 

Jon Jones and ‘DC’ have left their rivalry in the past

Yes, they hated each other at one point. But years after their final fight—and with Cormier long retired—the dynamic between the two legends has clearly shifted. When they met as coaches on the Russian version of The Ultimate Fighter, Cormier admitted that being around Jones no longer carries the same tension it once did. 

“Being around Jon Jones, it’s different because we had such a bad history, but the reality is, I’m done fighting now, and that part of it’s gone,” Cormier explained. While he acknowledged that friction still exists—“Obviously we argue a lot”—Cormier emphasized that maturity has prevailed. 

“I think that we’ve gotten to a point in our lives that we can be in the same area without trying to fight each other,” he added, signaling that one of MMA’s fiercest rivalries has finally cooled down a bit.

While things are cool between the pair for now, a third clash, even at RAF, could quickly change the status quo. Jones is chasing money fights and big moments, and a wrestling match against DC might line his pockets well. Do you expect him to entertain the idea after their Russian reality show is done?