Daniel Cormier recently explained why he continues to reject Jon Jones‘ attempts to make peace. Cormier made it clear that while they are now cordial with each other, he is not interested in being friends.
Cormier and Jones were rivals and competed twice for the UFC light heavyweight championship. They constantly clashed during every interaction, including a fight following a press conference. Years later, they participated as opposing coaches on ALF Reality, a competition similar to The Ultimate Fighter.
Jones criticized Cormier for his unwillingness to bury the hatchet and even accused him of unprofessional behavior. However, ‘DC’ responded that he has no interest in being friends because of how bitter their rivalry was.
“If I didn’t have to be around [Jones], I’m not going to voluntarily be around him. Why would I want that? Look, man, I don’t harbor the emotion of the past that I did with him, I really don’t,” Cormier told The Ariel Helwani Show. “We spoke negatively about each other’s families, we had a nasty, nasty thing. He cheated constantly.”
He added:
“I don’t have to let him off the hook and be his friend. That would be me just going, ‘Everything you did is good.’ It’s not, it just wasn’t good,” Cormier said. “I can be cordial, I can work alongside you, I can do my thing. But I don’t have to be your friend. I’m a man and it is what it is. No, I’m not gonna be friends with you.”
Daniel Cormier Urges Jon Jones to Move On
Daniel Cormier also urged Jon Jones to move on and stop holding out hope that they’ll form a friendship. He admitted that he doesn’t feel the same way about ‘Bones’ that he once did.
Cormier said that he doesn’t believe Jones needs to be friendly with everyone he once had issues with. Speaking with Ariel Helwani, ‘DC’ reiterated that he and Jones won’t have a fairytale ending.
“[Jones and I] don’t need to be friends, we don’t need to be getting drinks together, and having dinners, and doing all these crazy things. You don’t have to have fairytale endings to everything in life. Life ain’t fair, man,” Cormier said. “If fair is me being your friend then sorry, bro, you have a life ahead of you that will not be fair.”
He added:
“Am I going to run up at Jon Jones and fight him every time I see him? No. If he says, ‘Hi’ to me, I’ll say, ‘Hi,’ but why do we need to be friends?”
Cormier Casts Doubt on Potential RAF Wrestling Match Against Jones
Cormier also cast doubt on a potential RAF wrestling match with Jones. ‘DC’ said he doesn’t believe ‘Bones’ will want to take the risk of losing in dominant fashion.
Although Jones got the better of Cormier in the octagon, ‘DC’ would have a significant advantage in a wrestling match. He is a former Olympic wrestler and is far more experienced competing at the highest level in the sport.
Cormier also said he believes money would be a major factor.
“To make me and [Jones] do anything costs so much money. There’s very few people that could actually make it happen,” Cormier told The Ariel Helwani Show. “I don’t know that he’s willing to allow me to embarrass him on a wrestling mat.”
‘Why Would I Want That?’: Daniel Cormier Snubs Jon Jones’ Peace Offer