Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier had some of the bitter rivalries in UFC historical past, however will they ever meet once more – maybe this time on a wrestling mat?
Cormier, a two-time Olympian, publicly said that he didn’t need Jones to take part in a wrestling match with him. However whereas Royal Air Power officers stay hopeful, present head of expertise relations Lance Palmer, who additionally competes with Aaron Pico in RAF 10, admits it will not be simple.
“There are quite a lot of transferring elements that have to be mounted to make that occur,” Palmer advised MMA Combating. “I feel if we each actually wish to do it, we will make it occur.”
Cormier, 47, has already been retired from competitors for a number of years, however Jones was actively pursuing a combat on the UFC White Home card till lately when his request was denied.
Jones appeared on RAF 9 in Could alongside latest UFC signee Gable Stevenson and admitted he would love the possibility to return to the wrestling mat after competing in school earlier than turning to MMA full-time.
However Cormier nonetheless scoffed at Jones agreeing to combat him, vowing to empty the previous UFC two-division champion in a one-sided style in the event that they ever met.
On high of that, Jones has talked about his battle with arthritis in his decrease again, which is usually a very significant issue while you’re getting ready for a wrestling match.
“Bodily, neither of us can see it occurring, however I imply, we have stated the identical factor about different issues prior to now,” Palmer stated. “I had John at my final occasion in Dallas and he was with Gable Stevenson. It was superior. John is at all times an ideal man. He and his brother, I’ve at all times been shut through the years.
“If Jones vs. Cormier had been to occur, I feel it will rely upon the state of affairs. Clearly folks wish to see it, however it’s form of like if all the celebrities lined up and I feel it may occur, however there isn’t any timeline.”
Mr Palmer commented that the RAF was already the stage for some retired fighters to return to fight, and he didn’t perceive why Mr Jones and Mr Cormier couldn’t embrace the identical philosophy.
“I feel they each had enjoyable doing it and everybody noticed (Chris) Weidman get on the mat. I feel he is 41 years outdated or one thing,” Palmer stated. “He could also be a bit of older, however he is in his 40s. He simply acquired on the mat. Frankie Edgar simply acquired on the mat. All of those guys are getting in form to wrestle. It is nice to see.”
“Often MMA fighters are retired and do not have anything happening, in order that they go and do a jiu-jitsu match or one thing simply to indicate up there. Even[Yuliyah]Faber brings them again to the wrestling mat the place their love for the game first began as children. It is nice to see.”
RAF has an enormous card scheduled for August in Cleveland and is celebrating its first anniversary, so Palmer is hoping for some actually enjoyable matchmaking, however there isn’t any telling if Jones vs. Cormier is definitely potential.
Palmer stays hopeful, however he says the actual choice might be left to the fighters.
“We’ll see what occurs,” Palmer stated. “Let’s examine in the event that they actually wish to do it.”
