“He’s My Enemy All the Time”: Daniel Cormier Fires Back at Jon Jones, Denies Off-Camera Truce

Jones made headlines last week, claiming Cormier told him there was no more animosity between them and instead, the rivalry was calculated, since it was too profitable to drop. 

DC even confessed that he will continue it on camera, per Jones. However, Cormier has heard it and is not having any of it. 

Daniel Cormier Sets the Record Straight With Jon Jones

Jon Jones previously recalled that the incident happened off-camera during the filming of ALF Reality 3, a Russian MMA reality series in Thailand. Both men served as opposing coaches on the show. 

Speaking on the DC Show, however, Cormier denied Jones’ version of events without hesitation. "But that didn't happen. We did not have that conversation where I sat to him and said, 'When the cameras are rolling, you're my enemy.' No, it's just my enemy all the time. It just is what it is," Cormier said. 

The former heavyweight and light-heavyweight champion was extremely clear about his position on the matter. Cormier hinted that not all stories need a fairy tale ending and that he would be satisfied even if Jones remained his nemesis forever. And he doesn’t need to pretend for financial benefits.

"It's okay. As I've told you before, you can go to bed at night with an enemy. You don't need a happy fairytale ending. Everybody doesn't need that. I don't. I'm a grown man," Cormier said. 

DC also took a shot at ‘Bones’ for speaking about a private moment publicly. "Obviously someone put a microphone in front of man's face, and he started speaking on the words that I delivered… and that's not true," Cormier said. "You can always come right here to the Daniel Cormier Show to know what I want to say, because I'm more than willing to tell it," he concluded. 

Cormier vs. Jones: A Rivalry That Never Cooled

After two title fights, a brawl at the press conference, countless verbal jabs, and now both men contradicting each other, this rivalry appears to be far from done. 

Their rivalry dates back to 2010 when Jones made an infamous remark about being able to take down Cormier. Later, they fought for the first time in 2015, with Jones emerging victorious via unanimous decision at UFC 182.

In the rematch at UFC 214 in 2017, Jones made a statement by knocking out Cormier. Unfortunately, the fight result was overturned after Jones tested positive for a banned substance. 

Both men are now retired from fighting, with Cormier serving as a UFC color commentator. However, retirement does not appear to have smoothed the edges of their relationship.