The post-retirement careers of elite mixed martial artists often follow predictable paths: commentary booths, coaching roles, or perhaps the occasional novelty boxing match. However, the emerging discipline of Real American Freestyle (RAF) wrestling has created a unique, high-stakes platform for former UFC legends to return to their athletic roots. Recently, two-division UFC champion and Olympic wrestler **Daniel “DC” Cormier** weighed in on a potential comeback, identifying one legendary rival he is keen to face and another elite foe he would categorically avoid.
The Unfinished Business: Cormier and Jones on the Mat
The rivalry between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones is one of the most defining and caustic chapters in UFC history. Their two bouts—both contentious and marred by the surrounding controversy—left the competitive ledger frustratingly unbalanced, sustaining animosity long after Cormier’s retirement. Jones himself recently suggested a charity grappling match could finally serve as a tertiary meeting, a sentiment Cormier now appears to embrace.
In a recent interview, when the conversation shifted to the burgeoning RAF promotion—which has already hosted figures like Michael Chandler and is set to feature Colby Covington—Cormier was asked if he would consider stepping onto the wrestling mat again.
His response was swift and specific:
“I’d wrestle the right guy. I’d wrestle Jon Jones.”
This willingness is highly significant. A grappling match allows both athletes to test their supreme athletic abilities without the irreversible damage inherent in a full MMA contest. For fans, it represents the purest form of athletic closure to a rivalry defined by technical brilliance and personal enmity. Cormier seems genuinely interested in the competitive symmetry this unique ruleset offers to settle their history.
The Tactical Retreat: Why Cormier Fears the `Soldier of God`
However, the list of acceptable opponents for Cormier’s potential wrestling return is evidently short. When his former teammate Josh Thomson proposed another legendary UFC veteran with an Olympic pedigree, **Yoel Romero**, Cormier’s enthusiasm vanished instantly. The rejection was not born of disrespect, but rather of profound, self-aware technical evaluation.
Cormier, a former Olympic captain for the United States, made it immediately clear he wants no part of the Cuban missile:
“No. I’m not wrestling Yoel Romero, bro. I wouldn’t wrestle Yoel. He’s still good, man! He’s like insanely good. I’m not wrestling with him. I’d wrestle like a Jon Jones or somebody.”
The technical irony is striking: Daniel Cormier, one of the most decorated amateur wrestlers in modern MMA history, is essentially “ducking” a fellow veteran, albeit one whose athletic prime seems to defy linear time. This cautious pragmatism speaks volumes about Romero’s terrifying ability on the mat, highlighted by his recent dominant victory over Pat Downey at RAF 4.
Cormier recalls competing alongside Romero during their respective national team careers:
“The thing about Yoel Romero is I was on the scene when he was. I was wrestling for the United States team when he was wrestling for Cuba. He was always a freak, now he’s like unbelievable…”
It is the ultimate professional compliment when a former rival, an Olympic silver medalist himself, acknowledges that discretion is the better part of valor. For Cormier, facing Jones is about settling a score; facing Romero is about surviving a technical execution.
Predicting the Current Landscape of Elite Wrestling
Cormier’s insights were not limited to his own hypothetical matches. He also weighed in on the highly anticipated RAF 5 event, where Yoel Romero is scheduled to face the young American standout, **Bo Nickal**.
While Cormier believes the younger, currently active Nickal will ultimately win, he predicts a grueling battle, precisely because of Romero’s unnerving longevity and skill:
“I don’t think that Yoel’s going to beat him because Bo just wrestled and he’s young, but boy, Yoel Romero is going to make it hard for him, especially after what I saw the other day.”
The RAF promotion is successfully tapping into a specific niche, allowing legends to leverage their foundational skills. Cormier`s commentary confirms that the organization is not merely a showcase for fading stars, but a genuine proving ground where technical wrestling supremacy is paramount—a fact underscored by his tactical refusal to engage with the “insanely good” Romero.
While the prospect of Cormier and Jones engaging in a grappling trilogy remains highly enticing for the combat sports community, fans may have to settle for the visual spectacle of Jones attempting to finally solve the riddle of DC’s wrestling, without the chilling presence of Yoel Romero lurking ringside.
Cormier has drawn a clear line: legacy defining battles are welcome, but unnecessary pain, especially against a seemingly ageless Cuban wrestling machine, is not.
