Daniel Cormier is a legendary former mixed martial artist and Olympic wrestler, best known for dominating multiple weight classes in the UFC. He’s famed for his epic bouts with Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic, Alexander Gustafsson, and Anderson Silva. Before joining the UFC, he was a high level amateur wrestler, even making two U.S. Olympic teams.
Over his career, he suffered just three losses, and only two in the UFC. He competed in two weight divisions, light heavyweight and heavyweight, and became UFC champion in both. Cormier’s fighting style relied heavily on wrestling and grappling, making him a very skilled tactician inside the Octagon. He officially retired in 2020 after a loss to Miocic, leaving behind a legacy as one of the sport’s greatest.
Daniel Cormier was born on March 20, 1979, in Lafayette, Louisiana, and grew up in a large, close-knit family that shaped his strong work ethic. He first found wrestling in high school after a coach intervened in a fight; he went on to win three state wrestling titles at Northside High. After high school, he attended Colby Community College in Kansas, where he became a two-time junior college national wrestling champion. Later, he transferred to Oklahoma State University, earned All-America honors, and graduated with a degree in sociology.
Daniel Cormier had a very strong wrestling background before his MMA days. In high school in Louisiana, he dominated wrestling and went on to become a two-time junior college national champion at Colby Community College with a perfect 61–0 record. He then moved to Oklahoma State University, where he earned All-America honors. After college, he moved into freestyle wrestling and represented the U.S. on the world stage many times. He made two Olympic teams (2004, 2008), placed fourth in the 2004 Games, and won a bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships. During his national career, he also won multiple U.S. Open titles and was named USA Wrestling Freestyle Wrestler of the Year in 2008.
Daniel Cormier made a huge mark in mixed martial arts after switching from wrestling. He made his MMA debut in 2009 and went on to fight in the UFC, building a 22 3 professional record. In his UFC career, he became champion in two weight classes, light heavyweight and heavyweight, and defended those titles multiple times. He faced some of the toughest names in the sport, including Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, and earned wins by knockout and submission. Known for his wrestling and strong grappling, he used his wrestling base to control fights and secure dominant wins. Cormier officially retired in 2020 after a title fight loss to Miocic, closing out a storied career as one of MMA’s top fighters.
As of 2025, Daniel Cormier’s net worth is estimated at around $6 million. He earned this amount through his successful fighting career in the UFC, where he became both a light heavyweight and heavyweight champion. He also made money from pay-per-view shares, sponsorships, and performance bonuses. After retiring, Cormier continued to earn through his work as a commentator and analyst for the UFC and ESPN, along with coaching and public appearances.