What does it take to become a two-division UFC champion? Sacrificing personal pleasures, avoiding distractions, and pushing yourself beyond familiar boundaries. But do these sacrifices also extend to natural acts like “s-x“? While it might sound surprising, for fighters like Daniel Cormier, it’s part of the equation. ‘DC’ who now works as a commentator alongside Joe Rogan, recently reflected on his past during a conversation with Ben Askren on his YouTube channel.

He shared that, during his fighting days, he often lived a “caveman-like” lifestyle to stay grounded and focused. Cormier revealed, “I tried to recreate that like I tried to recreate that caveman in me every fight. Abstained from s-x for a while, like a month.” This statement shocked Askren, who responded, “Are you kidding me? No, that’s wrong. You’re dumb.”

Undeterred, ‘DC’ continued to explain his rigorous approach to training and competition. He even recalled a time when he almost lived like a monk, saying, “Listen, abstain from s-x for like a month, and then don’t eat, like literally eat at, like, so main event usually walked at like 10 o’clock at night. Yep, don’t eat past like 2 p.m. in the afternoon.When you’re starving—literally starving—your mind shifts. You start thinking, if I had to go and kill something to eat right now, I would.”

Cormier’s accomplishments seem to justify his disciplined lifestyle. After finishing his Olympic wrestling career, Cormier smoothly transitioned into MMA. He fought in promotions like Strikeforce before joining the UFC, the world’s leading MMA organization. Over his impressive, decade-long career, the San Jose native fought 23 times in two divisions (LHW and HW), dominating both, and was defeated only 3 times, with one fight being a non-contest.

Two of his losses occurred toward the end of his career. However, abstaining from s-x wasn’t the only factor behind Cormier’s success. Several other elements fueled his disciplined approach—let’s explore those next.

Daniel Cormier opens up about his personal tragedies

Daniel Cormier, once an unfamiliar name to many, now stands at 45 years old and has amassed a fortune of $6 million since retiring from professional MMA over four years ago. While he has transitioned to a career as a commentator and analyst—a role he truly enjoys—his journey to success was far from easy. ‘DC’ has faced immense personal tragedy, from the murder of his father to the heartbreaking loss of his three-month daughter. These difficult experiences played a pivotal role in shaping the man and fighter he has become.

Early in his training, Cormier would make the daily travel from Gilroy to San Jose, California, where he would push himself through intense training sessions. His regimen often began with “running” or “hitting pads” followed by multiple daily training sessions. His career demanded extreme discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment.

In a 2017 interview with ANDscape, Cormier reflected on how these personal tragedies impacted his career. He shared, “When I lost my father, it was tough, obviously, because I was young, and my stepdad, Percy, had been such a strong figure in my life. Through him, my mom, and my family, they elevated me and taught me that, with loss, you won’t see that person again, but you still have a father.”

As for Cormier’s decision to abstain from s-x before his fights, many have questioned the reasoning behind it. Do you think there’s any scientific or psychological basis for this practice? What’s your perspective on Cormier’s legacy and his impact on the MMA world? Feel free to share your thoughts below.