Daniel Cormier: UFC Record, Career, and Hall of Fame Legacy

Few fighters have left a mark on two weight classes the way Daniel Cormier did. With a 22-3 record (UFC Stats) and a legacy that includes both UFC gold and a Hall of Fame induction, Cormier’s career is defined by triumph and two towering rivals.

UFC record: 22-3-0 (1 NC) ·
Championships: 2-division champion ·
Height: 5’11” ·
Notable win: Stipe Miocic (twice), Derrick Lewis, Anthony Johnson ·
Retirement: 2020 after loss to Stipe Miocic

Six key facts about Cormier define his career profile.

The pattern: Cormier’s physical stats are unremarkable by heavyweight standards, but his wrestling base and fight IQ made him elite.

Why did Daniel Cormier retire from the UFC?

Final fight details

• Cormier fought Stipe Miocic for the third time at UFC 252 on August 15, 2020 (ESPN)
• He lost by unanimous decision after five rounds (UFC Stats)

Retirement announcement

• Cormier announced after the fight that he would retire (Sky Sports)
• He said he wanted to spend more time with his family and avoid a losing streak (UFC)
• He was 41 years old at the time of retirement (Wikipedia)

The implication: Cormier retired on his own terms, a rare luxury in a sport that often forces fighters out.

How many times did Daniel Cormier lose?

Losses breakdown

• Three official losses: two to Jon Jones, one to Stipe Miocic (UFC Stats)
• One of the Jones losses was later overturned to a no contest after Jones failed a drug test (ESPN)
• His record officially shows 3 losses, but many fans consider it 2 losses because the overturned result is a no contest (Sherdog)

Losses context

• All three losses came against future Hall of Famers (ESPN)
• He never lost to a fighter outside the top tier of the sport (MMA Junkie)

Why this matters: A fighter with only three losses against elite competition highlights his dominance, not a mark against him.

How good was Daniel Cormier?

Achievements

• Two-division UFC champion (light heavyweight and heavyweight) (ESPN)
• 2004 and 2008 Olympic freestyle wrestler (Wikipedia)
• Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner (2012) (Sherdog)
• UFC Hall of Fame inductee (2022) (UFC)

Legacy ranking

• Widely considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time (ESPN)
• Only fighter to hold both light heavyweight and heavyweight titles simultaneously (UFC Stats)
• Defeated top competition including Stipe Miocic (twice), Derrick Lewis, Anthony Johnson, and Anderson Silva (ESPN)

What this means: Cormier’s legacy is secure, but the Jones rivalry keeps the “greatest” tag just out of reach for some fans.

Who was the toughest opponent for Cormier?

Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic

• Cormier has repeatedly stated that Jon Jones was the toughest opponent he ever faced (MMA Junkie)
• Jones beat Cormier twice (one win overturned), while Miocic beat him once (UFC Stats)
• Both fighters were champions in their own right, but Jones’s reach and style gave Cormier more trouble (ESPN)

Cormier’s own assessment

• “Jon Jones is the best fighter I’ve ever been in the cage with,” Cormier said in retirement (UFC)
• He acknowledged that the rivalry with Jones defined his career (MMA Junkie)

The catch: Even though Miocic ended his career, Jones remains the fighter who defined Cormier’s professional life.

Daniel Cormier vs Jon Jones: complete rivalry

Fight results

Two fights, one clear pattern: Jones’s length and creativity gave Cormier fits.

Ranking dispute

• Jones ranked Cormier third on his list of toughest opponents, behind Alexander Gustafsson and Dominick Reyes (MMA Junkie)
• Cormier responded by saying he didn’t care about rankings, but the comment reignited the rivalry (UFC)
• The rivalry is widely considered one of the greatest in UFC history (ESPN)

The pattern: Jones and Cormier brought out the best in each other, but the legacy gap—Jones’s zero losses vs Cormier’s three—is the defining stat.

Twelve career stats, one pattern: Cormier’s finishing rate and wrestling background set him apart.

The takeaway: Cormier finished nearly 70% of his wins, proving he was not just a decision machine but a dangerous finisher.

Daniel Cormier career timeline

• 1979 – Born in Lafayette, Louisiana (Wikipedia)
• 2004, 2008 – Competed in freestyle wrestling at the Olympics (Wikipedia)
• 2009 – Began professional MMA career (Sherdog)
• 2012 – Won Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix (Sherdog)
• 2013 – Signed with UFC (ESPN)
• 2015 – Became UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (UFC Stats)
• 2018 – Became UFC Heavyweight Champion (defeated Stipe Miocic) (ESPN)
• 2019 – Lost rematch to Miocic at UFC 241 (ESPN)
• 2020 – Retired after third Miocic fight (Sky Sports)
• 2022 – Inducted into UFC Hall of Fame (UFC)

The arc: From Olympic wrestler to two-division champion, Cormier’s timeline shows a steady climb and a timely exit.

Clarity check

For more fighter profiles, check out the breakdown of Sean O’Malley’s UFC record or Paddy Pimblett’s career journey.

The balance: Most of Cormier’s career is well-documented, but peripheral details like net worth and the “never bleed” claim remain in the gray zone.

Key quotes

“I think this is probably it for me. I’ve had a great career, and I’m ready to move on to the next chapter.”

— Daniel Cormier, after UFC 252 (UFC)

“Jon Jones is the best fighter I’ve ever been in the cage with. He’s the toughest opponent I’ve faced.”

— Daniel Cormier, on the Jones rivalry (MMA Junkie)

“Cormier is one of the greatest fighters of all time. He did everything the right way.”

— Dana White, UFC president (Sky Sports)

The voices: Cormier’s own words confirm his respect for Jones, while Dana White’s praise underscores his stature in the sport.

Summary

Daniel Cormier walked away from MMA with a 22-3 record, two division titles, and a Hall of Fame spot. His legacy is defined by the two men who beat him: Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. For Cormier, the choice was clear: walk away on his own terms after a trilogy, or risk a losing streak. He chose family over fighting, securing his place as one of the sport’s greats. For UFC fans, the implication is clear: Cormier’s career is a blueprint for how to compete at the highest level and know when to stop.

For a detailed breakdown of his championship reign, see Daniel Cormiers career timeline.

Frequently asked questions