UFC’s Daniel Cormier has experienced some of the sport’s highest of highs and lowest of lows.
The former two-division UFC Champion hung his hat on a legendary MMA career in 2020 at the age of 41. Unlike most world champions, Cormier didn’t fight in his twenties but ‘DC’ still went on to becoming one of the greatest fighters of all time.
Daniel Cormier scored wins over ‘the baddest man on the planet’ Stipe Miocic, Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson (twice) during his heyday among legends like Anderson Silva.
Retired for nearly five years and now a full-time commentator, Cormier doesn’t have many regrets in his near-perfect UFC career but there’s a moment that stands out between him and the only opponent he wasn’t able to beat: Jon Jones.
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Daniel Cormier wishes he would’ve stayed ‘locked in’ for Jon Jones rematch
UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has seen his fair share of rivals since he won the UFC Light Heavyweight title in 2011, from Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson to Tom Aspinall. But, nothing quite compared to the heat Cormier and Jones had with all sorts of altercations before their two fights.
A 38-year-old Cormier gave Jones one of his biggest challenges in their long-awaited rematch at UFC 214 in 2017.
The title fight didn’t go the five-round distance as it did the first time at UFC 182 with Cormier and Jones winning one round a piece before they entered a third round where Jones would find the finish on DC after landing a flush headkick.
“I was fighting really well,” Cormier said of his rematch with Jones in a video posted by Eddie Alvarez’s Underground Kings.
“I kinda started talking to him and I lost track and I lost focus and I end up getting kicked in the head.
“I should have stayed locked in,” Cormier added.
“That’s probably the thing I regret the most. I just was feeling so good that night that I kinda got outside of myself a little bit.”
Daniel Cormier on what he’s most proud of in MMA career
After losing to Jon Jones the second time, Daniel Cormier would eventually reclaim his title as Jones was stripped of the title and suspended due to a positive drug test for anabolic steroid Turinabol. Jones vs. Cormier 2 was overturned from a TKO result to a no-contest.
Running through the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions with two world title belts, Cormier never popped for any performance-enhancers and stayed near the top of the sport for a decade.
So, what’s the moment ‘DC’ is most proud of in his hall of fame career?
“All of it,” Cormier answered.
“When I started fighting, I was about 31 years old in my first fight.
“So, I’m proud of being able to do what I did at my age,” Cormier said.