photo 1 of 332 SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 18: Daniel Cormier conducts interviews during media day ahead of the UFC on FOX event at HP Pavilion on April 18, 2013 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
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Daniel CormierIt took him two tries, but Daniel Cormier can finally call himself the UFC’s light heavyweight champion – a title he earned through perseverance, hard work and a refusal to accept no for an answer. When Jon Jones was suspended indefinitely and stripped of his belt in April 2015, Cormier begged UFC president Dana White for a chance to fight for the title again, despite having lost to Jones by unanimous decision in January 2015. Cormier got a second opportunity and capitalized, using a third-round rear naked choke on Anthony “Rumble” Johnson at UFC 187 to claim the vacant title. Cormier is no stranger to success, having been a two-time Olympic wrestler and six-time U.S. Open national champion, but he has also struggled with losses. At Oklahoma State, he lost the Division I finals. He finished fourth at the 2008 Olympics and never made it to the 2012 Summer Games after falling ill.
• Nine wins by knockout, four by submission (4 RNC)
• Received Jiu-Jitsu brown belt in October 2013
• Has 7-1, 1 NC record at light heavyweight
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