Daniel Cormier says a seven-figure offer has been made for a wrestling match with Jon Jones and he would accept it without hesitation, but believes Jones will never agree to a points-based format because he knows Cormier would win 10-0.
Cormier addressed the ongoing negotiations on his YouTube channel, drawing a clear line between what he wants — scored wrestling — and what he says Jones keeps steering the conversation toward.
The amount of money that has been offered to us to do the wrestling matches, seven figures to wrestle. You tell me to wrestle for that. I’m in all day. All day to do a wrestling match.
Cormier was blunt about why a clear format matters to him.
I know as a fact I will beat him 10-0. At 47 years old, if we do a wrestling match, I’m going to beat him 10-0. I just don’t imagine any other outcome. When I was on the Olympic team two times, I didn’t just forget how to wrestle. I know I’m gonna beat him 10-0, but he also knows I’m going to beat him 10-0. That’s why he will not wrestle me.
He described how negotiations kept shifting away from his preferred format.
Then the stipulations start. It’s 10 minutes. Okay. Let’s do 8 minutes. Then it’s me going, ‘I want to wrestle. If we’re going to do anything, let’s wrestle.’ Right? You’re a wrestler. I’m a wrestler. You said you could beat me. You can take me out. Let’s do that. No. Let’s grapple. Let’s do a match where we do points. Let’s make sure that after the 8 minutes are done, we know who won. Let’s not go grapple for 8 minutes and then have a tie.
Cormier acknowledged he would not submit Jones but said control and riding time would decide a scored match in his favor. He named Gable Steveson as the only person he believes could beat him under wrestling rules.
If Abraham and Jones want somebody to wrestle me and beat me, they better send Gable Steveson. I can’t beat Gable Steveson in a wrestling match. Not even close. But Jon Jones and I for seven figures in a wrestling match, that is a 10-0 match every single time. I know it and he knows it. That’s why it ain’t happening.
