Summary
Jon Jones expresses interest in completing the trilogy with Daniel Cormier . Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/brwlrz
Anyone expecting an announcement involving Alex Poatan will have to hold their excitement. Jon Jones is back in the UFC news, but his return isn't directly related to a super fight in the octagon. Instead, the American revealed that he accepted an unexpected challenge: to face Daniel Cormier in a charity grappling match.
The revelation came about in an unassuming way, during an interaction Jones had with fans on the social network X (formerly Twitter). When asked about the possibility of competing in a grappling match, the former champion didn't hesitate to mention his old rival.
“I was recently approached to do a grappling match against DC for charity, and I accepted immediately. Let's see how it goes. 3-0,” Jones wrote provocatively.
I was approached the other day about grappling DC for charity, I said absolutely. Let's see what comes of it. 3-0 https://t.co/o1hVpOOWT8
— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) November 25, 2025
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A rivalry that marked an era in the UFC.
Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier were involved in one of the most intense rivalries in recent UFC history. The conflict reached its peak when they both hosted a season of the reality show The Ultimate Fighter, marked by heated exchanges and a hostile atmosphere outside the octagon.
Inside the cage, Jones dominated. He defeated Cormier twice, in 2015 and 2017, both times for the light heavyweight title. The second victory, by knockout, was later overturned after Jones tested positive in an anti-doping test, changing the result to a No Contest. Even so, the official record remains in favor of "Bones".
So when will he return to the UFC?
The mention of a new chapter with Cormier comes just as Jon Jones is once again being linked to a possible competitive return in 2026. The trigger would be the UFC's plan to hold a special event at the White House, where Alex Poatan emerges as a possible opponent.
In mid-2025, Jones even refused a multi-million dollar offer to fight Tom Aspinall . At the time, he announced his retirement, although he remained enrolled in the organization's anti-doping program, signaling that the door was never completely closed.
Despite accepting the challenge outside of traditional MMA, Jon Jones doesn't hide the fact that the super fight against Alex Poatan remains a personal desire. The Brazilian is the current light heavyweight champion and a central figure in the UFC's plans for the historic event scheduled for June 2026 at the White House.
For now, the confrontation with Cormier remains confined to the mat and the charitable cause. But when it comes to Jon Jones , any move is usually just the beginning of something bigger, especially when the belt and the spotlight enter the equation.
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