Daniel Ryan Cormier is a well-known name among wrestling fans and UFC fans alike. He began his career as a professional wrestler before becoming an MMA fighter. The former wrestler was a semi-finalist at the Olympics and has won the USA Senior National Championship six times.

After joining the UFC, the mixed martial artist rose to prominence. Additionally, he holds the record for simultaneously winning two UFC titles in different weight divisions and successfully defending both titles. Additionally, the former wrestler and MMA fighter won the Xtreme MMA Heavyweight Championship.

As fans, you’re probably eager to learn more about the illustrious fighter and his illustrious career.

Daniel Cormier | Education, Family, and Childhood

Daniel Cormier, the accomplished wrestler was born to Joseph and Audrey Cormier on March 20, 1979. He was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, United States of America. Cormier is a Pisces.

Additionally, he had a large family of six people, including himself. Daniel is one of three siblings: Joseph, Felicia, and Feral. He did, however, have a difficult childhood, as his father was assassinated when Daniel was only seven years old.

Despite this, he attended Northside High School before enrolling in Colby Community College. He later transferred to Oklahoma State University and earned a sociology degree.

Age, Height, and Weight of Daniel Cormier

The American is currently 41 years old. He is 180 centimeters (5 ft 11 in) tall and weighs 240 pounds (approx.).

Daniel Cormier | Olympic, Professional Wrestling, Mixed Martial Arts, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Retirement

Career in Wrestling

His MMA career began during his senior year of high school. During his senior year of high school, he won three Louisiana State wrestling championships. He had an outstanding high school record, winning over 100 fights and losing only nine.

This may come as a surprise to many fans, but the former Olympian was also an all-state football player. He was a line breaker. Additionally, he turned down an offer to play football in order to pursue his passion for wrestling.

Cormier did, however, win two junior college national championships while attending Colby Community College. He then transferred to Oklahoma State University, where he wrestled freestyle in the NCAA Division I. He entered the national tournament as a third seed at 184 pounds in 2000.

However, he fell just one match short of becoming an All-American. In 2001, the wrestler at 184 pounds reached the finals and eventually became an all-American, despite losing 8-4 to Cael Sanderson in the finals. With 27 defeats, his previous record was 53-10, with six of his defeats coming against Cael Sanderson.

The veteran’s phenomenal performance remained at an all-time high. From 2003 to 2008, he won the senior US national championship in a row. This qualified him to represent the United States of America at the international level for each of those years.

Olympic Games

Additionally, he represented Team USA at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Despite strong performances throughout the Olympics, his quest for a gold medal ended in the semifinals when he lost to Khadzhimurat Gatsalov. He was also named captain of the United States of America’s wrestling team for the 2008 Olympics, but was forced to withdraw due to kidney failure.

Cormier, meanwhile, won a bronze medal at the 2007 World Wrestling Championships. He continued on the same path and won a gold medal at the Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand-Prix in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. The same wrestling tournament is regarded as one of the most difficult contests in the world.

Career in Mixed Martial Arts and UFC

Following his exclusion from the 2008 Olympics, the former Olympian began training at American Kickboxing Academy alongside Cain Velasquez, Jon Fitch, and Josh Koscheck in order to pursue a career in mixed martial arts. Cormier traveled to Australia following his professional debut and fought for Xtreme MMA; he defeated Lucas Browne to win the Xtreme MMA Heavyweight Championship on July 31, 2010. Cormier won his second MMA title a few weeks later when he defeated Tony Johnson for the KOTC Heavyweight Championship.

Additionally, he appeared in Strikeforce Challengers. He was under contract with Strikeforce Organization for eight fights.

You’ve probably heard some epic friendship fairy tales. However, when it comes to Cormier, he accomplished something remarkable by moving down to the UFC’s light heavyweight division solely as a result of his teammate Cain Velasquez’s promotion to the UFC heavyweight title. Prior to his promotion to the UFC’s light heavyweight division, he had won two of his previous two fights.

In 2015, former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was stripped of his title and suspended indefinitely following his defense of lawful offense indictments. Daniel was given the opportunity to replace Jon Jones in the void title fight against Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 on May 23, 2015. Cormier was dropped in the opening seconds of the fight by Johnson’s overhand right.

Following that, the former MMA fighter won the next two rounds.

CORMIER’S WIN IN THE LAST TWO ROUNDS WAS ENOUGH TO WIN THE UFC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. THIS ALSO EARNED HIM THE BONUS FOR PERFORMANCE OF THE NIGHT.

Champion of the Heavyweight Division

Additionally, the light heavyweight champion signed a new eight-fight deal with the UFC in 2015. However, Cormier’s rematch with former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was scheduled for April 2016 but was postponed due to Cormier’s foot injury. Later that year, the fight was rescheduled for July 9, 2016, but was also canceled due to Jon Jones’ possible doping violations.

Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones

While a rematch with Anthony Johnson took place at UFC 210 on April 8, 2017, Cormier could retain his title with a victory. The long-awaited rematch with Jon Jones took place at UFC 214 on July 29, 2017. Jones reclaimed the title by defeating Cormier.

Jon was later found to have violated doping regulations and tested positive for anabolic steroids. Thus, Cormier regained the title.

On July 7, 2018, the fighter with a long human-made history became the second fighter in UFC history to hold two titles concurrently. He did so by defeating Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight championship. Following his title win, he made his first heavyweight title defense, crushing Derrick Lewis to successfully defend the title.

This fight made him the first UFC fighter to win and defend both the light heavyweight and heavyweight championships, as well as the first to defend both titles. Later that year, on August 17, 2019, the heavyweight champion lost a rematch to Stipe Miocic, effectively ending his reign as heavyweight champion. Thus, on August 15, 2020, the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champions decided to retire.

Honors and Commendations

• In 2018, the UFC crowned a heavyweight champion.
• In 2015, he was crowned UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
• Heavyweight Champion of Xtreme MMA
• For the first time in UFC history, a fighter successfully defended both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.
• 2007 World Wrestling Championship bronze medalist
• Pan American Games gold medalist (2002)
• 2007 Pan American Games bronze medalist
• 2005 Wrestling World Cup Silver Medalist
• Dave Schultz Memorial International Open gold medalist twice (2001, 2007)
• In 2002, he won a bronze medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial International Open.
• Six-time Senior National Champion of the United States of America (20003-2008)
• In 2007, he won the John Smith Freestyle Wrestler of the Year award.
• 2018’s Most Outstanding Fighter
• In 2018, the Analyst of the Year award was presented (World MMA Awards)
• 2018’s Best Mixed Martial Arts Fighter (ESPY Award)
• ESPN’s Sportsman of the Year (2018)
• Champion of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix
• Heavyweight Champion of King of the Cage

Daniel Cormier | Accident

As a professional fighter, not every day is sunny; therefore, you must contend with rain in the middle. As a result, you are certain to be injured during a fight, but the extent of the injury is unknown. Cormier, likewise, has been sidelined by numerous injuries.

For example, his injury prior to UFC 197’s main event, when he injured his leg and caused it to swell. He did not appear to have any lateral movement at all. Similarly, his most recent injury occurred in 2020, when he sustained an eye injury.

2020 Injury to the Eye

Cormier suffered a torn cornea in August 2020 during his UFC 252 bout with Stipe Miocic. They were a part of one of the greatest trilogies of all time as they fought for the Heavyweight Championship.

Cormier was leading the match 2-1 at the time; however, he eventually lost the bout and suffered a horrific eye injury. Miocic’s unintentional poke resulted in a torn cornea.

Daniel Cormier | Post-Career

Daniel Cormier announced his retirement in August 2020, three weeks after his second loss to Stipe Miocic at UFC 252. Cormier stated that he should have retired earlier prior to his bout with Stipe Miocic.

However, he added again that it was fine, implying that he should now exit the arena. Additionally, he explained how his age requires him to withdraw at this point. Having said that, Cormier will have plenty to do after retirement, as many are collaborating with him on business ventures.

Daniel Cormier | Wife and Children

The 41-year-old is rumored to have had one previous relationship prior to marrying Salina Deleon, his longtime love. The couple began dating in 2010. The couple married in 2017.

Daniel, like the majority of high-profile celebrities, keeps his personal life very private. However, it is widely known that Salina has been Cormier’s support system since 2010, when the MMA fighter was having difficulty finding fights and was struggling financially. They have a son and a daughter.

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