DANIEL Cormier threw UFC 206 into turmoil by pulling out of the showpiece event this month due to injury.
The current light-heavyweight champion was due to defend his title against heavy hitting Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson in Toronto on December 10.
Cormier beat Johnson to take the title two years ago and the ‘Rumble’ was desperate for revenge.
Cormier is due to undergo surgery on the groin injury suffered in training as UFC bosses look to find a new opponent for Johnson.
Who is Daniel Cormier?
Born in Louisiana in 1979 , he took up wrestling at High School and was voted twice voted the most outstanding wrestler of the state tournament.
In 1995 Cormier won a bronze medal in the world championships in Greco-Roman Wrestling in the cadet (15–16 years old) division.
Cormier was also an all-state football player in high school at the linebacker position.
What is Daniel Cormier’s background?
After graduating from University with a degree in sociology, Cormier went on to have a successful career in Freestyle wrestling.
Cormier was the senior USA national champion for five years and went on to represent his country at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
Cormier became one of a select few Americans to win a gold medal at the prestigious Golden Grand-Prix Ivan Yarygin held in Russia, and considered by experts to be the toughest wrestling tournament.
When did Daniel Cormier make his debut?
DC made the decision to turn to Mixed Martial Arts after the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
He made his debut a year later beating Gary Frazier in the second round by TKO (Technical Knock out) in the Strikeforce Challengers event in Oklahoma.
Cormier then joined UFC in 2013 beating Frank Mir on a unanimous points decision.
What is Daniel Cormier’s UFC record?
Cormier has a professional record of 19 fights and 18 wins.
Eight of Cormier's wins have come by knockout.
DC's only defeat was against Jon Jones at UFC 182 in Las Vegas in 2015 on a unanimous points decision.
When is Daniel Cormier's next fight?
Cormier was due to headline UFC 206 in Torornto but has withdrawn with a groin injury that requires surgery.
Reports suggest DC will back in the Octagon in March 2017.
Cormier has responded to recent criticism of his training regime at the AKA (American Kickboxing Academy).
"Guys play basketball and get hurt and that's probably the easiest sport on the planet. We're actually fighting every day. We're wrestling, we're grappling." The light-heavyweight champion said.
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