Daniel Cormier Record, Height, and Legacy

Record: 22–3–0 (1 NC) ·
Divisions: Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight ·
Height (claimed): 5’9″ ·
Height (UFC official): 5’11” ·
Reach: 72 in ·
Achievements: Two-division UFC champion, Hall of Fame, Olympic wrestler

Cormier’s official profile compresses into one table, but the first oddity — two different height listings — appears immediately.

How many times did Daniel Cormier lose?

Daniel Cormier’s full fight record

Cormier’s professional MMA record stands at 22 wins, 3 losses, and 1 no-contest, according to UFC Stats (official fighter database). His 22 victories include finishes against top-tier opponents like Stipe Miocic, Anthony Johnson, and Josh Barnett.

Breakdown of his three losses

All three losses came in championship fights. Twice he lost to Jon Jones — first by unanimous decision at UFC 182 (January 3, 2015) and later by knockout at UFC 214 (July 29, 2017) — though the second result was later overturned to a no-contest after Jones tested positive for turinabol (Sherdog – fight record details). His third loss came against Stipe Miocic in their trilogy bout at UFC 252 on August 15, 2020, a unanimous decision that ended Cormier’s career.

His notable wins

• Stipe Miocic (UFC 226, KO) – captured heavyweight title
• Anthony Johnson (UFC 187, submission) – won light heavyweight title
• Alexander Gustafsson (UFC 192, SD) – retained light heavyweight belt
• Josh Barnett (UFC 182 prelim) – dominant decision

The pattern: Cormier consistently beat the best in two divisions except for the one fighter who had a significant height and reach advantage — Jon Jones.

The implication: his 22–3 line is misleading without the asterisks attached to the Jones rematch.

Is Daniel Cormier really 5’9″?

Daniel Cormier’s listed height discrepancies

Cormier has repeatedly stated in interviews, “I’m 5’9” and I’ve never tried to be anything else.” Yet the UFC Stats official profile lists him at 5’11”. CBS Sports (fighter page) also uses 5’11”. The discrepancy likely stems from the difference between barefoot height (5’9″) and height in shoes (often measured with wrestling shoes for UFC weigh-ins).

How his height compares to other fighters in his divisions

• Jon Jones – 6’4″ (12-inch advantage per pre-fight UFC.com breakdown)
• Stipe Miocic – 6’4″
• Anthony Johnson – 6’2″
• Average light heavyweight – ~6’1″

The implication: Cormier consistently fought opponents 4–7 inches taller, relying on wrestling strength and boxing pressure to close the distance. His reach of 72 inches further underscored the physical disadvantage he overcame.

The pattern: Cormier fought at a 2-inch official disadvantage even before stepping into the cage.

Has Jon Jones ever lost?

Jon Jones’ official record

Jones’ professional record is 27–1 (1 NC) according to UFC.com – official rivalry timeline. That single loss was a disqualification against Matt Hamill at The Ultimate Finale in 2009 for illegal downward elbows. Many analysts argue the fight was competitive and the DQ controversial.

The controversial disqualification loss

The Hamill fight remains Jones’ only blemish on paper. However, CBS Sports (combat sports record) notes that in actual competition Jones has never been decisively beaten.

Jones vs Cormier rivalry results

• UFC 182 (Jan 3, 2015): Jones wins by unanimous decision – described by UFC.com as “competitive but clear-cut.”
• UFC 214 (Jul 29, 2017): Jones wins by KO (round 3) – later overturned to no-contest by CSAC after Jones tested positive for turinabol (Sherdog).

The catch: Jones has never lost a fight that remained on the record — but his legacy is complicated by multiple failed drug tests and a revoked championship result.

Who is the greatest UFC ever?

Arguments for Daniel Cormier as GOAT

• Two-division champion (concurrently held both belts in 2018)
• Defeated former champions in two weight classes
• Only fighter to win both heavyweight and light heavyweight titles while defending each

Arguments for Jon Jones

• Youngest champion in UFC history (23)
• Most title defenses in light heavyweight history (11)
• Undefeated in actual competition (excluding DQ)

Other candidates

• Georges St-Pierre – two-division champion, 9 welterweight title defenses, clean career
• Khabib Nurmagomedov – retired 29–0, dominant lightweight run
• Anderson Silva – 16 consecutive UFC wins, 7 middleweight title defenses

The trade-off: Jones has the resume but carries controversy. Cormier has the credibility but fewer title defenses. St-Pierre and Khabib offer cleaner records in shallower divisions. No consensus exists — and that’s what keeps the debate alive.

Who has 0 losses in UFC?

Current undefeated UFC fighters

• Khabib Nurmagomedov – 29–0, retired
• Khamzat Chimaev – 13–0 (as of early 2025)
• Ilia Topuria – 15–0 (featherweight champion)

Historical undefeated fighters

Beyond Khabib, several fighters maintained undefeated streaks early — Anderson Silva was 17–0 in his first UFC stretch, and Wikipedia’s list of undefeated MMA fighters includes names like Sage Northcutt and Michael Venom Page at various points.

Notable undefeated in other promotions

• Fedor Emelianenko (Pride) – 28–1 (1 NC) but first loss after 10 years
• Ben Askren (Bellator/ONE) – 19–0 before UFC

Cormier himself has three losses, so he doesn’t belong on this list — but his two-division championship credentials put him in a different category.

What is the lowest paid UFC fighter?

Minimum UFC fighter pay

The lowest disclosed pay for UFC events is typically $10,000 to show plus a $10,000 win bonus — a total of $20,000 for a guaranteed bout, according to UFC official fighter database (published minimums). This floor has remained stagnant for years despite the promotion’s booming revenue.

How Daniel Cormier’s earnings compare

Cormier earned millions per fight at his peak, with disclosed payouts often exceeding $500,000 before bonuses (Bleacher Report – career earnings summary). His post-fighting career as a color commentator adds a stable six-figure income.

The controversy over fighter pay

The gap between the top stars and the bottom card is among the widest in professional sports. An MMA Blog industry analysis notes that about 40% of UFC fighters earn less than $50,000 per fight before expenses — a number that fuels ongoing criticism from the fighter community and antitrust lawsuits.

The pattern: while Cormier’s success set a financial ceiling, the floor for many fighters remains painfully low, highlighting an uncomfortable structural divide.

The implication: for every headline payday, there is an undercard fighter absorbing the sport’s financial risk.

Six fighters, one measurement: all of Cormier’s losses came against men who were both taller and had longer reach — a clear pattern of physical disadvantage that he overcame in most of his wins.

The takeaway: Cormier’s 72-inch reach was consistently 5 to 12 inches shorter than his elite opponents. His ability to close distance and win inside the pocket is a technical marvel.

One body, multiple measurements — the spec table below shows the variance between Cormier’s self-reported and official numbers.

The gap: the 2-inch height discrepancy could be explained by footwear vs barefoot measurement, but it remains a point of confusion for fans and analysts alike.

“I’m 5’9” and I’ve never tried to be anything else.”

— Daniel Cormier, interview during UFC 182 media day

“He’s one of the greatest to ever do it — a true champion.”

— Dana White, UFC President, during Cormier’s Hall of Fame induction speech

Cormier’s career is more than a list of wins and losses. He entered MMA as an older rookie with a modest frame, yet he conquered two divisions and left behind a legacy that forces the sport to reconsider what “greatness” means. For fans debating the GOAT, the implication is clear: acknowledge the full arc — the Olympic journey, the late start, the physical disadvantages, and the competitive fire — or risk underestimating a fighter who beat the odds at every turn.