From Louisiana to the UFC: Oklahoma State Wrestler Daniel Cormier’s Induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Oklahoma State wrestler Daniel Cormier was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame this weekend. Originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, Cormier had a successful wrestling career, starting in high school where he won three state championships at Northside High School.

Cormier continued his dominance at Colby Community College in Kansas, winning two NJCAA national championships with a perfect 61-0 record over two years. Upon transferring to Oklahoma State, he went 52-10 across the 2000 and 2001 seasons and qualified for the NCAA Championships in both years, earning All-America honors in 2001. He finished as national runner-up at 184 pounds and played a crucial role in helping OSU win Big 12 championships during both of his seasons.

After his collegiate wrestling career, Cormier transitioned to freestyle wrestling and represented the United States, winning gold medals at the Pan American Championships in 2002 and the Pan American Games in 2003. He then went on to have a successful mixed martial arts career, joining the UFC in 2013 and accumulating 22 wins in 26 fights before retiring. Now he works with ESPN as part of its mixed martial arts coverage.

Being inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Cormier expressed gratitude for his home state’s role in his career, stating “Boy, it’s good to be a kid from Louisiana”. This recognition further solidifies Cormier’s legacy as one of the top wrestlers to come out of Oklahoma State University.