American · Lake Charles, USA · Born 20 March 1979Daniel Cormier is a former two-division UFC champion and Olympic wrestler widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.
Daniel Ryan Cormier was born on 20 March 1979 in Lafayette, Louisiana, and endured tragedy at just seven years old, when his biological father was shot and killed on Thanksgiving Day 1986. Raised by his mother and adoptive stepfather, Cormier discovered wrestling at 11 after a coach broke up a parking lot altercation between Cormier and a friend and offered to train him instead. Cormier won three Louisiana state wrestling championships at Northside High School, compiling a 101-9 record, and went on to represent the United States at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling, winning multiple Pan American titles along the way. Cormier turned to mixed martial arts in 2009, becoming the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix champion before joining the UFC, where he won both the light heavyweight and heavyweight championships, becoming just the second fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two divisions simultaneously. Cormier, nicknamed "DC," retired in 2020 after a storied trilogy with Stipe Miocic, and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022. He has continued his involvement in the sport as a lead colour commentator and analyst for ESPN and UFC broadcasts.
Two-division UFC champion; Olympic wrestler; now UFC color commentator
How They Played
Cormier utilized his elite wrestling background as the foundation of his fighting style, combining dominant takedowns with strong ground control. He developed effective striking over his career, particularly his boxing and dirty boxing in the clinch, while maintaining excellent cardio and pressure fighting.
Lasting Impact
Cormier is one of only four fighters in UFC history to hold titles in two different weight classes simultaneously, cementing his status as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.
Career Honours
- UFC Light Heavyweight Champion 2015-2018
- UFC Heavyweight Champion 2018-2019
- Strikeforce Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament winner 2012
- UFC Hall of Fame
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
 USA | — | 1 |
American Athletes