Jon Jones rejected seven-figure wrestling match with Cormier

Jon Jones turned down a seven-figure payday to wrestle Daniel Cormier, according to the former two-division UFC champion.

Cormier told fans in a YouTube Q&A that an unnamed organization offered both fighters seven figures for a six-minute wrestling match, but Jones refused. "He will not do it," Cormier said, as reported by MMA Fighting. "I'm not lying. I went through the negotiations." Cormier added that he believed the outcome would be lopsided in his favor — "10-0, I'm going to tech him" — and suggested Jones knew it.

Cormier pitched grappling alternative, Jones wanted submission-only rules

When the wrestling match fell through, Cormier said he proposed a grappling bout instead. Jones reportedly countered that he would only compete under submission-only rules, rejecting Cormier's request for a points-based format. "He won't compete with me in anything he thinks there's a chance that he'd lose in," Cormier said. "So, give up on the Jon Jones thing. He's not going to do it."

The talks followed a renewed rivalry earlier this year when the two coached opposite each other on the Russian MMA reality show ALF. Real American Freestyle officials have publicly expressed interest in booking a Jones-Cormier wrestling match, though Cormier said that promotion lacks the budget for it.

Jones has been inactive since stopping Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. He briefly retired rather than unify his heavyweight title with interim champion Tom Aspinall, then unretired to pursue a fight with Alex Pereira at UFC White House before revealing he has severe hip arthritis. Jones has since hinted at another possible comeback.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones turned down 7-figure offer to wrestle, ‘He will not do it’