Former UFC heavyweight Daniel Cormier was rewarded with a hefty $1million bonus despite losing to Jon Jones in 2015.
Cormier had a hugely successful career in the UFC and is considered one of the best fighters to have ever graced the octagon. 'DC' made a quick-fire rise after signing with the promotion, winning his first four fights before being pitted against Jones.
The American star suffered the first defeat of his career in 2015 with Jones outpointing Cormier in an epic five-round battle. Now Cormier detailed a phone call with UFC president Dana White following his defeat. “Back in 2015, I fought Jon Jones for the first time,” Cormier said when discussing his two fights with Jones on The Pivot podcast.
“We had this great build. And I was making $80,000 to show up and $80,000 to win, I lost. So I left that arena thinking, ‘All that, and I made $80,000.’ And I made like $80,000 in sponsorship back when we could wear those patches on our shorts. So I was like, ‘Man, for all that, I’m gonna make $150,000. It’s crazy.
"Dana calls me two days later. He says ‘Hey man, you all killed it. Numbers are out of this world.’ He goes, ‘We’re gonna send you a million dollars.’ (This is) 2015. Dude sent me a million-dollar check next day, just because he said I did a great job.”
When Cormier competed against Jones in 2015, the Nevada State Athletic Commission disclosed Cormier's guaranteed purse of $90,000. Shortly after the defeat, Cormier's meeting with Jones was declared Fight of the Night which handed him an added $50,000 bonus taking his overall earnings to $140,000.
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White's generous gift saw Cormier earn 11 times his base pay for his defeat against Jones which was a signal of the UFC kingpin's intent to reward the talented star. The light-heavyweight contender went on to put together another four fight win streak taking the scalps of Anderson Silva and Alexander Gustafsson.
He later challenged Jones for the second time and was knocked out in the third round but the result was later overturned to a no contest, after his rival tested positive for a banned substance. Cormier went on to become heavyweight champion in the promotion touching gloves with the likes of Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis.
Despite having huge success after his defeats to Jones, Cormier has admitted he is still haunted by the events that unfolded in both meetings. “He beats me, gets suspended for the first time,” Cormier continued. “I could know through the fights that maybe this dude is just better than me. But I also know that if you’re not doing the things that are boosting you, can you really work to the level that I’m working? I can’t let it go."
