The Daniel Cormier Show – DC says Jon Jones HAS NOTHING LEFT after revealing severe arthritis, Gaethje-Topuria

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Host: Daniel Cormier
Date: February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Daniel Cormier (“DC”) dives deep into recent revelations about Jon Jones’s health and career future following leaked comments about severe arthritis. He addresses not only Jones’s physical state and the controversial way his injury news was disclosed, but also speculates on the end of an MMA era. Cormier also pivots to discuss the potential blockbuster fight between Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria—exploring what it means for American MMA and the UFC’s big White House event.

Key Discussion Points

1. Jon Jones’s Health Revelation and Controversy

• Cormier opens with talk of Jon Jones admitting to suffering from severe arthritis, which was leaked during an apparently off-the-record interaction with a young fan wearing Meta smart glasses (07:10-08:30).
• DC questions the narrative, noting it’s hard not to notice when Meta glasses are recording due to a tell-tale white light.

  “There's a white light on the side of those glasses that tells you that they are recording. How could he have missed that?" (DC, 08:45)

• He expresses skepticism about Jones being unaware:

  “When you’ve lived a lifetime in the public eye… you build this almost sixth sense as to when people are recording.” (DC, 09:50)

• DC theorizes Jones wanted this information out, using the influencer to subtly change the public narrative about his injuries.

2. The Toll of Combat Sports on Jones

• Cormier recounts observing Jones at a celebrity football game, noting his movement as evidence of physical decline.

  “When Dwight Howard ran past him, there’s no way that he was actually trying. And Dwight Howard was able to go past him like that." (DC, 12:10)

• DC references ESPN's Michael Leaves’ surprised reaction to how Jones looked running.
• Cormier makes it clear:

  “That was the video that made me believe that Jon Jones doesn’t have anything left.” (DC, 13:25)

• He reflects on the inevitability of aging and athletic decline, and suggests Jones may finally be coming to terms with the end:

  “You can see him going, accepting. I might be done.” (DC, 15:50)

3. No Wrestling Match, End of an Era

• Addressing rumors sparked by their recent joint reality show appearance, DC dismisses the idea of a wrestling match:

  “There will be no wrestling match between him and I, because if that’s him right, in athletics, it would be too hard for him to compete in a wrestling match.” (DC, 14:15)

• DC frames Jones as the last active member of a golden MMA generation, suggesting retirement is imminent and the sport is closing out an era.

  “Once he’s done, that whole generation of fighters might be done. Everybody’s gone… except for Jones.” (DC, 16:25)

4. Gaethje vs. Topuria – The Right Fight at the Right Time

• DC pivots to analysis of the lightweight division, asserting that Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria is “the right fight to make.” (17:15)
• He explains the business logic and timing of booking an American champion (Gaethje) in a major fight at the UFC’s White House event, juxtaposing potential outcomes had Paddy Pimblett won:

  “It was a no-lose situation. And now, honestly, I don’t know how we missed it… Now that Gaethje has the belt, you got an American guy holding a title going into the White House. It worked one way or the other.” (DC, 18:25)

• DC admits the matchmaking rationale only made sense to him in hindsight, underscoring UFC’s strategy.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Meta Glasses incident:

  “It’s hard not to be aware in those situations… Information like that, if it’s that close to the vest, you don’t share it with a random either.” (DC, 09:30)

• On the reality of Jon Jones’s body:

  “I believe Jon Jones is hurt, and I believe Jon Jones really is dealing with sustained… injuries from a long, sustained career in combat sports.” (DC, 12:55)

• On generational transition:

  “In real time, we’re watching him come to the acceptance that it’s over.” (DC, 15:50)

Timestamps & Segment Highlights

• [07:10] – DC unpacks the Meta glasses leak and the plausibility of Jones being recorded unknowingly.
• [12:10] – Observations from the celebrity football game that convinced DC of Jones’s diminished physical capacity.
• [13:25] – Cormier states, “Jones doesn’t have anything left.”
• [14:15] – DC definitively rules out a prospective wrestling match.
• [16:25] – Reflections on the looming end of the golden generation of MMA.
• [17:15] – Preview and breakdown of Gaethje vs. Topuria; DC explains the UFC’s big-picture matchmaking.
• [18:25] – DC connects the promotional dots for Gaethje as champ at the White House event.

Tone & Style

Cormier adopts his signature candid, reflective, and slightly teasing tone. He mixes detailed insider observations with a conversational approach, occasionally poking fun at himself (e.g., stories about his sunburn from Australia) and at Jon Jones.

Summary Takeaway

DC’s central message is that Jon Jones is physically finished at the top level—a reality both the fighter and fans must confront soon. DC’s analysis strips away spin, suggesting Jones himself orchestrated the leak about his arthritis as a subtle cue of vulnerability. The baton of stardom is being passed, and fights like Gaethje vs. Topuria represent the dawn of a new era—one that’s calculated, global, and strategically marketed.

For fans wanting to understand the state of MMA’s legends and where the future is headed, this episode is essential listening, brimming with both insight and DC’s trademark honesty.