Daniel Cormier’s Humble Admission Gets Jon Jones Appreciation After Retirement

UFC veteran Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones get into an online back-and-forth following Jones' retirement.

Daniel Cormier’s Humble Admission Gets Jon Jones Appreciation After Retirement

Daniel Cormier admits losing to Jon Jones (via Imago)

After months of long anticipation, Jon Jones has finally made the official announcement regarding his retirement from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. This huge decision came right after UFC persistently tried their absolute best to make him fight the interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. While generally retirement means staying away from all the bright limelight, in Jones’s unique case, it’s far from true.

Following Jones’ retirement, Daniel Cormier accused his longtime rival of escaping the challenge posed by the young contender. Cormier and Jones shared one of UFC’s fiercest rivalries, which continues to grow years after their fights. In a recent ESPN MMA interview, Cormier surprisingly admitted Jones’ decision to retire without complaints, accepting it without further argument.

Everything else aside, all the stuff outside of the Octagon, he won every time that he was put in a fight with a man, one-on-one, and he beat me in Anaheim. I can tell you this without question. I beat Stipe Miocic, I became the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, UFC light heavyweight champion. I was never better than that time in Anaheim. That was the best I've ever been...and he beat me!
Daniel Cormier said after Jones’ retirement

Jones shared this clip on his Instagram story and captioned it, ‘Rare W’ in a sarcastic tone. Jones and DC shared one of UFC’s nastiest, most personal rivalries filled with trash talk, brawls, and intense press conferences. Despite all the hatred and build-up, Cormier heartbreakingly lost to Jones twice, even breaking down into tears after their second fight.

However, the rivalry’s legacy became complicated when Jones’ second win was overturned due to a failed PED test, tarnishing his victory. Cormier later reflected on the emotional pain, accepting his losses but questioning Jones’ integrity and career achievements forever. According to the Hall of Famer, Jones can never be the GOAT due to his antics outside the octagon.

Daniel Cormier slams Jon Jones following latest criminal charges

Jon Jones had been subtly hinting at his retirement for a long time, but very few in the MMA community believed him. UFC officials confirmed Jones initially agreed to the fight, and they were prepared to meet his requested financial compensation fully. However, Jones later backed out, choosing retirement instead, ultimately wasting valuable time for both UFC and rising contender Tom Aspinall.

Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones face to face
Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones face to face (via X)

Recent reports revealed Jones was involved in an accident where he allegedly fled the scene, raising serious legal concerns again. A woman rescued from the crash was reportedly intoxicated and claimed Jones was present with her shortly before the incident occurred. Daniel Cormier addressed the situation on his YouTube channel, making a sly comment that subtly referenced Jones’ long history of reckless behaviour.

The saddest thing about this to me is that it's not surprising. I've seen him do things over the course of his career that have been very dangerous, and it's just not smart. I hope that as he goes into the next phase of his career, if it's over forever, that he fills the void with something positive.
Daniel Cormier said reacting to reports of Jones’ latest charges

In 2015, Jones was involved in a hit-and-run incident, fleeing after crashing into a pregnant woman’s vehicle in Albuquerque. He was later arrested and faced felony charges, resulting in UFC stripping him of his light heavyweight title and suspending him indefinitely. Besides the hit-and-run, Jones has faced multiple legal issues, including DUI, battery, and firearm-related charges throughout his MMA career.

During their heated rivalry, Cormier once predicted Jones would never change and would repeatedly make similar life-altering mistakes. At that time, many fans and analysts doubted Cormier’s harsh assessment, believing Jones would eventually mature and leave trouble behind permanently.

However, over the years, Cormier’s prediction proved accurate, with Jones repeatedly facing new legal issues and damaging his legacy. Regardless, fans remain curious and eagerly await any new developments or official updates regarding Jones’ most recent legal case.