Daniel Cormier considered leaving a Russian reality television show he was coaching alongside Jon Jones after a violent altercation between fighters escalated to a potentially dangerous situation during filming.
Cormier and Jones were serving as opposing coaches on ALF MMA, a programme known for volatile moments involving participants, but a recent episode saw tensions spiral beyond expectations when a confrontation between fighters triggered a series of brawls.
“We’ve seen a few fights since we’ve been here, and this was by far the biggest fight,” Cormier said, according to the show and as reported by MMA Fighting. “… Eventually, Sergei’s so mad, because now he has a cut under his chin, that he runs into the kitchen, and he wants to grab a knife. Because all he’s thinking about now is protecting himself. It was very intense.”
Jones echoed those concerns, describing the incident as one of the most severe he had witnessed during his time on the show. “It was really one of the most intense moments that I personally have seen, being a part of this show for two seasons now,” Jones said. “Sergei went to grab that knife and scared the shit out of everybody… It was really intense, and I think for the first time, everybody on set kind of felt really unsafe.”
As the situation unfolded, Cormier expressed serious doubts about continuing his involvement and discussed leaving with his team. “I think we’re gonna go home,” Cormier said on the broadcast. “I might give them their money back and stay home. I can’t do this shit. It’s too much. Somebody’s going to get hurt bad. Like, bad. Somebody’s going to get hurt really bad.”
Following the incident, Jones addressed the fighters in an effort to restore order, warning that ongoing violence could jeopardise the production. “Right now, one of our coaches is debating on staying,” Jones said. “At the end of the day, this competition, we’re all on the same team… nothing on this show is worth losing your life, whether that’s in the ground or in jail.”
The situation was eventually defused, with those involved brought under control, allowing filming to continue without further escalation and ensuring both coaches remained on the programme.
ALF MMA has gained attention for its unpredictable environment, with previous seasons featuring high-profile figures and multiple on-set confrontations, though this latest episode marked one of the most serious incidents to date.
