“I would have beaten Jon Jones 100% because I came in as the Olympian—the guy who could out-wrestle anyone. I truly believed I could defeat him, without a doubt.” These were the exact words of Daniel Cormier during an Instagram video shared by an MMA page on his rivalry with Jon Jones. Despite becoming a dual-division champion in the UFC, ‘DC’ still has some regrets in his career. The biggest one is him not being able to beat ‘Bones’ twice in his career. Their long-awaited clash was originally scheduled for July 2016 at UFC 200, but fate had other plans.

Just days before the event, Jon Jones was pulled from the card after being flagged for a doping violation by USADA. The incident led to a one-year suspension, leaving fans frustrated and Daniel Cormier without his grudge match. It was yet another twist in a rivalry already defined by chaos and controversy. A year later, Jon Jones finally stepped back into the Octagon to settle the score—and he did so in emphatic fashion. In the third round, he delivered a devastating head kick followed by a barrage of strikes that knocked Cormier out cold. 

Nearly ten years on, Daniel Cormier finally shed light on a key moment from that fateful rematch, revealing how a clever in-fight tactic ended up blowing up in his face. Cormier, during a video shared by Eddie Alvarez Underground Kings on Instagram, was seen interacting with young kids and shared the biggest achievement of his career.

On being asked about what his proudest moment and biggest regret in his career were, he said, “Most proud, I mean, just all of it. When I started fighting, I was about to turn 31 years old in my first fight. So I am proud of being able to do what I did at my age.” However, he then shared the biggest regret of his career and pointed out the fight with Jones, which he lost because of was careless in the middle of the fight. 

‘DC’ further added, “Um, and biggest regret I don’t know, man probably. So I lost the fight to Jon Jones, and I was fighting really well. And I kind of started talking to him and lost track and lost focus, and I ended up getting kicked in the head. So yeah, I should have stayed locked in. That’s probably the thing I regret the most. I just was feeling so good that night that I kind of got outside of myself a little bit.” ‘

‘Bones’ took the opportunity to the post of the former dual champion on his story with a unique reaction, “👀🥷🏽🙏🏽.” But where does their rivalry stand today? Is there still bad blood between these two former champions, or has time finally cooled the flames? Let’s take a closer look at how their once-explosive feud has evolved over the years. 

Have Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier ended their rivalry finally?

Once considered one of the most heated rivalries in MMA history, the feud between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones was ignited by deeply personal jabs and bitter accusations. But as the years have gone by, both men seem to have been tempered by time. 

The first sign of change came at the UFC 309 press conference, when Jones, the pride of Albuquerque, surprised many by expressing a genuine desire to make peace with Cormier. He spoke of wanting to “bury the hatchet,” even hoping they could one day share a smile and shake hands—a far cry from the hostility that once defined their relationship.

However, it seems the former dual-champion is in no mood to end his rivalry. On ‘DC’s part, he’s acknowledged that “it’s okay to just be okay”. Cormier further added that he is in no mood to end his rivalry with ‘Bones’ and further added, “We aren’t great, and I don’t think we ever have to be.” 

While Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier may not be friends—or enemies—anymore, a quiet mutual respect has emerged between them, especially during their respective lives’ hardest moments. When Jones lost his mother in 2017, Cormier put their rivalry aside and offered his heartfelt condolences. And two years later, when Cormier’s father passed away, Jones returned the gesture with a respectful tribute to DC and his family.

It was a reminder that, beneath the years of conflict, both men understood the weight of real loss. What do you think about the rivalry between two of the legends of the sport? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.