Fact Check: Was Daniel Cormier banned by UFC over alleged leaked DMs with Eric Trump?

WASHINGTON, DC: As debate continues over the alleged leaked DMs between Daniel Cormier and Eric Trump, a new claim has gained traction online. Viral posts now allege that the UFC color commentator was banned and replaced by Paul Felder because of the controversy. 

Supporters of the claim point to Cormier's supposed professional consequences as evidence, while critics remain skeptical and continue to question the authenticity of the alleged messages.

Claim: UFC banned Daniel Cormier and replaced him with Paul Felder

An X user shared a meme of Daniel Cormier with the word "BANNED" displayed in red, claiming that the UFC replaced him with Paul Felder because of alleged leaked DMs with Eric Trump.

The meme refers to a June 14, 2026, incident in which Cormier briefly posted and then deleted screenshots of messages purportedly sent by Trump asking about the outcomes and legitimacy of UFC Freedom 250 fights. Cormier apparently described the messages as appalling.

The user who shared the meme questioned the denials surrounding the alleged DMs, asking, "If it didn't happen, why is he banned?" and suggesting that Cormier's alleged removal served as evidence that the messages were genuine. At the time of writing, the post had received more than 37,500 views and numerous comments.

Several netizens further amplified the claim. One user claimed that the UFC Hall of Famer had been removed from the commentary team for UFC Freedom 250 at the White House and replaced by Michael Bisping, adding to the speculation surrounding the controversy.

Fact Check: Daniel Cormier did not face any disciplinary action 

The claim is false. The meme appears to be a satirical exaggeration based on the recent controversy involving alleged leak messages between Daniel Cormier and Eric Trump.

Cormier was not banned from UFC Freedom 250 and was not replaced by Felder. Pre-event coverage confirmed that the commentary team included Jon Anik as the play-by-play announcer, along with Joe Rogan and Cormier as color commentators. Cormier also took part in media appearances and fan events leading up to the card.

While Felder has occasionally filled in for Cormier or other commentators at UFC events in the past, those substitutions were unrelated to the current controversy. No statement from the UFC, Dana White, or any credible news outlet indicates that Cormier was suspended, banned, or removed from the broadcast because of the alleged messages.

The controversy began on June 14, 2026, when Cormier briefly posted screenshots on X that allegedly showed messages from Trump. The messages reportedly asked for insider information about UFC Freedom 250 fighters, injuries, fight outcomes, and whether any fights were "rigged." Cormier apparently criticized the messages in the post before quickly deleting it. 

Several journalists reported seeing the post before it was removed. However, Trump strongly denied sending the messages, calling the screenshots fake and AI-generated. He said he had never contacted Cormier and argued that the removal of the post supported his claim that the screenshots were not authentic.