ダニエル・ コーミエ

It 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.

TRAINING: My typical day is to get up in the morning, spend some time with my kids, feed them breakfast and then head to the gym. M/W/F sparring and grappling and Tues and Sat wrestling. Thursday is jiu-jitsu and running. Weightlifting on Wednesday and Saturday.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training in August of 2009. I wanted to train MMA because I love the competitive aspects of fighting. I love combat.

What ranks and titles have you held? UFC light heavyweight champion, Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix champion, Brown belt in jiu-jitsu

Do you have any heroes? My heroes are all the greatest wrestlers in U.S. history: John Smith, Kevin Jackson, Dan Gable, Kenny Monday and all the guys that came before me in what I believe is the toughest sport in the world.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? Being in the UFC means a great deal to me. I have been around it because of my teammates, but to finally fight in the show will be an experience like no other. I can't wait.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went to Oklahoma State University and got my degree in sociology.

What was your job before you started fighting? I was the club coach at Oklahoma State and also wrestled internationally post-college.

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? I was a six-time US open national champion. Two-time US Olympian (Captain of 2008 team), Pan-Am games champion, NCAA runner up and two-time NJCAA National champ, 2007 world bronze medalist and 2007 USA wrestling wrestler of the year. I was 5th, 9th, and 3rd at world competitions and I was 4th at the Olympic Games.

Favorite grappling technique: Guillotine choke.

Favorite Striking technique: Overhand right.