01What happened

The story, straight

Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier is denying involvement in a Sunday-night tweet from his own account that posted alleged screenshots of DMs with Eric Trump. In the messages, Trump appeared to ask Cormier for insider betting tips and whether any fights at UFC Freedom 250 — held at the White House — were 'rigged.' Cormier told MMA Fighting he only learned about the controversy when UFC social media staff approached him at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. 'It just doesn't make sense logically to think that I would do that,' Cormier said, claiming his account was compromised.

Daniel Cormier's account posted alleged DMs from Eric Trump asking if UFC White House fights were 'rigged' and looking for betting tips on Sunday night. DC says he didn't do it — claims he was hacked and only found out when UFC staff brought it up to him at the event around 6:30 p.m. 'It just doesn't make sense logically to think that I would do that,' he told MMA Fighting. The tweet also included a caption saying Cormier 'would not tolerate that type of behavior.'

02Spread timeline

Where it actually started

Sun Jun 15, ~6:30pmOrigin
Controversial tweet with alleged Eric Trump DM screenshots posted from Cormier's account.tweet from DC's account drops alleged Eric Trump DMs about rigged fights and betting tips
source
Sun Jun 15, ~6:30pm
UFC social media staff inform Cormier about the tweet; he claims to have no knowledge of it.UFC social media people tell DC about the tweet at the event — he says he had no idea
source
Mon Jun 17
Cormier publicly denies posting the tweet, claims his account was hacked.DC goes public: 'I would never do something like that,' says he was hacked
source

03Source receipts

Every claim, linked

MMA FightingCormier's full denial and account of learning about the tweet at the UFC White House event
primarysearchreceipt
MMA ManiaCorroborating report with additional context: the tweet's caption, the 'rigged' fights detail, and Cormier calling the situation 'idiot' logic
supportingsearchreceipt

04What's solid, what isn't

What's solid and what isn't

Confirmed
  • A tweet was sent from Cormier's account on Sunday containing alleged DM screenshots with Eric Trump.
  • Cormier denies posting the tweet and claims his account was hacked.
  • UFC social media staff spoke to Cormier about the controversy at the event.
Disputed
  • Whether Cormier's account was actually hacked or he posted and deleted.
  • The authenticity of the alleged Eric Trump DM screenshots.
  • Whether Eric Trump actually sent those messages.
Developing
  • No response yet from Eric Trump or the Trump camp regarding the alleged DMs.

05Why it matters

The editorial take

The incident raises questions about account security for high-profile figures in sports media and puts a spotlight on the intersection of political figures and combat sports betting. Cormier is a commentator and former two-division UFC champion with a significant public profile, making a hacked-account claim credible but also conveniently unverifiable.

Hacked-account claims are the oldest trick in the book, but DC is a big enough name that either explanation — hacked or caught — is a story. The Eric Trump angle makes it messier. Betting integrity questions around a White House UFC event is not a great look regardless of who hit 'post.'