Jon Jones responds to Daniel Cormier threat: ‘Those ass whoopings must’ve left more than bruises’

Jon Jones believes he’ll always be in Daniel Cormier’s head.

The longtime rivals are publicly trading jabs yet again following comments Cormier made about Jones during Friday’s official UFC 318 weigh-in show. Responding to a fan question asking the panel where they would face their nemesis if they could choose and who that person would be, Cormier alluded to his never-ending feud with Jones.

“I kind of want the ability to kill him, so I’d like to do it at my house,” Cormier said. “They can’t really do anything.”

Jones responded to the clip on Instagram, writing, “Could you imagine getting your ass kicked for the third time in front of the wife and kids?” The two all-time greats have twice met in the octagon, with Jones winning their first fight at UFC 182 by unanimous decision and then knocking Cormier out with a head kick at UFC 214. The latter result was later overturned to a no-contest due to Jones later failing a drug test.

On Saturday, Jones continued to press the issue on Twitter, writing, “DC said he wants to kill me at his house. I already buried him twice in the octagon. Third time I’m bringing a shovel.”

Jones and Cormier have been rivals for years and both have put together Hall of Fame résumés. From 2011 to 2020, Jones reigned as UFC light heavyweight champion while extending a lengthy undefeated streak (his lone loss came via disqualification to Matt Hamill in 2009), and he later captured a vacant heavyweight title in 2023; Cormier has also held the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles, capturing the former in 2015 in the absence of Jones, who was serving a suspension for his involvement in a hit-and-run.

“Bones” believes Cormier has never been able to get out from under his shadow.

“A blind man can see the mansion I own in Daniel’s head,” Jones wrote. “I just didn’t realize how deep his hate still runs. Those ass whoopings must’ve left more than bruises, I feel like I’m the most painful thing that ever happened to that man’s life. Emotional damage.”

Jones recently announced a retirement, though it appears to be short-lived as he has stated his plans to compete at the proposed UFC White House event that President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White have said is in the works for the 250th Independence Day celebration in July 2026.