Jon Jones Vs. Daniel Cormier Rematch Teased in Surprise Trilogy Match

Jones Reveals the Offer

Jon  Jones took to his X account recently to reveal that he had been approached with a proposition to face his longtime rival in a charitable grappling match.

In his post, Jones stated, “I was approached the other day about grappling DC for charity, I said absolutely. Let’s see what comes of it. 3-0.”

The "3-0" in his comment is a confident prediction of his perfect record against Cormier, should the match come to fruition.

A Look Back at a Legendary Rivalry

The history between Jones and Cormier is fraught with genuine hostility. Their encounter during the buildup of UFC 178 lives in infamy, as the two ended up in a press conference brawl:

Jones pulled out of UFC 178 due to a meniscus injury, and the fight was rebooked for UFC 182 in Jan. 2015. During the fight, Jones defended his light heavyweight title by unanimous decision in a tactical battle. 

Their rematch at UFC 214 in July 2017 ended in a knockout victory for Jones, a result that was later overturned to a no-contest after Jones failed a drug test. 

Jones himself admitted that the rivalry brought out the worst in him, saying in an interview with influencer Vic Blends, “I remember I got extra workouts on Christmas day just because I hated him at the time so much and couldn’t imagine losing to him.” 

This intensity helped create one of the most compelling narratives in the UFC, leaving some fans to wonder what the outcome would be if a third fight were to take place.

A grappling match would make the most sense for this potential trilogy, as both athletes are currently retired and both possess elite-level skills on the mat.

Obstacles and the Road Ahead

Despite Jones's public acceptance, the match is nothing more than an offer, and far from certainty. 

These days, it's apparent that Jones’ main focus is coming out of retirement to compete in the UFC Octagon for the promotion’s historic White House event, even if Dana White currently seems hesitant to consider booking him on the card.

More importantly, Daniel Cormier's stance remains unknown, though he has been spotted training once again alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov during Islam Makhachev’s preparation for the UFC welterweight title (from Anatomy of a Fighter on YouTube): 

The concept of Jones and Cormier facing off for charity in a grappling match could make some fans excited due to nostalgic purposes, though it would still leave questions about the outcome of a third fight in MMA during both fighters’ athletic primes. While the potential match is merely an idea as of now, Jones's acceptance has given this potential trilogy some surprising momentum.