Daniel Cormier, the retired former two-division UFC champion, appears to be contemplating a return to competitive athletics. However, this comeback would not involve the heavy gloves and unforgiving cage of Mixed Martial Arts, but rather the mats of professional wrestling.
In recent remarks, Cormier confirmed that he would be open to participating in the specialized Real American Freestyle (RAF) circuit—a platform that has recently drawn many veteran MMA stars back to their grappling roots. Yet, his willingness comes with a strict, and frankly entertaining, stipulation regarding his potential opponents.
The Eternal Dance with Jon Jones
The rivalry between Cormier and Jon Jones remains one of the most intense and professionally consequential in the history of combat sports. Though their previous encounters in the Octagon ended decisively, the psychological warfare between the two champions has never ceased.
When asked about stepping onto the RAF mat, Cormier named Jones immediately:
“I’d wrestle the right guy,” Cormier stated. “I’d wrestle Jon Jones.”
The proposal of a grappling trilogy has circulated between the two men before, often framed as a charitable exhibition. For Cormier, facing Jones in a pure wrestling contest—a domain where both men achieved NCAA and Olympic success—offers a chance to address their unresolved history without the full brutality of an MMA fight. It`s a low-stakes opportunity to settle a high-stakes score, or at least generate immense spectator interest based on animosity alone.
The Unexpected Threat: Yoel Romero
While Cormier enthusiastically entertained the idea of facing his greatest adversary, the mood shifted entirely when his former teammate, Josh Thomson, proposed a different, but equally formidable, veteran: Yoel “The Soldier of God” Romero.
Romero, a former Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling for Cuba, recently stunned the grappling community with a dominant performance at RAF 4. Despite being 46 years old, Romero appears biologically immune to the concept of physical decline.
Cormier’s immediate response to the suggestion was categorical and laden with professional respect:
“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 irony is palpable: Cormier, a man who willingly battled Jones twice in his prime—a fighter notorious for his size, skill, and controversy—is now drawing a firm line in the sand, opting for the known evil over the perpetual athletic miracle that is Romero.
Cormier’s refusal speaks volumes about Romero’s terrifying consistency. Where Jones represents a historical narrative that Cormier feels equipped to handle, Romero represents a physical reality that even the competitive spirit of `DC` is hesitant to confront in a discipline where pure athleticism reigns supreme.
Romero’s Upcoming Test and Cormier’s Prediction
Yoel Romero`s relentless commitment to competitive wrestling will be tested again soon. He is scheduled to face collegiate wrestling phenom Bo Nickal at RAF 5 on January 10.
Cormier weighed in on this matchup, acknowledging the difficulty that Romero presents, even to a younger, currently active wrestler like Nickal.
“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,” Cormier remarked.
He further elaborated on Romero’s legendary status, recalling his own experience competing against Romero during his tenure on the United States wrestling team against the Cuban national team.
“The thing about Yoel Romero is I was on the scene when he was,” Cormier recalled. “He was always a freak, now he’s like unbelievable… I think Bo will edge him out because I just think that he’s a little younger and at some point that has to matter.”
Conclusion: Distinguishing Rivalry from Reality
Daniel Cormier’s assessment provides a clear window into the mental calculus of veteran champions. A match against Jon Jones is an appealing narrative conclusion to a defining career rivalry—a marketable, engaging, and personal challenge. A match against Yoel Romero, however, is simply a brutal athletic assessment against an opponent whose physical gifts defy the laws of aging. For Cormier, the difference between settling a score and risking physical exhaustion against a genetic outlier is significant enough to warrant a swift and definitive rejection.
