What’s the greatest achievement for any father? It’s rarely about climbing mountains or building rockets — it’s in the quiet, powerful joy of watching their children grow, step by step. For 46-year-old former UFC champion Daniel Cormier, that sentiment couldn’t ring truer. He’s not chasing grand gestures from his son — he’s simply proud to witness every small victory along the way.
Cormier, a father of three, shares his eldest son, Daniel Jr., with his wife Salina Deleon. Born in 2011, young Daniel is now 14 and recently reached a meaningful milestone. While Daniel Cormier has been making headlines this week trying to mediate between close friends Chael Sonnen and Islam Makhachev’s camp, he paused it all to celebrate a different — and deeply personal — kind of moment.
Taking to Instagram, ‘DC’ shared that his son had just graduated from eighth grade, officially heading into high school. Marking the heartfelt occasion, he wrote,
“Oh, how time flies? Little Daniel had his eighth grade graduation this week. Son, I can’t tell you how proud of you. I am you’re going to be a great young man. Congratulations kid. I love you. Let’s give him a big congrats guys.” In a touching show of support, the former NCAA wrestling standout also encouraged fans to cheer on his son’s next chapter, writing, “@dcwa_dan (and give him a follow).”
Daniel Jr., who celebrated his 14th birthday in February, appears to be walking a path similar to his father’s. He’s currently training at the renowned American Kickboxing Academy — the very gym that molded legends like ‘DC’ himself, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Islam Makhachev. Beyond Daniel Jr., Daniel Cormier shares two daughters with his wife, Salina Deleon — Marquita Kalani and Luna Rose, the latter born in 2020.
However, Daniel Cormier’s journey through fatherhood has also seen profound heartbreak. He had a daughter, Kaedyn Imri, from a previous relationship, who tragically passed away in a car accident at just three years old.
Daniel Cormier reflects on daughter’s tragic loss
Daniel Cormier often wears a smile, but behind it lies a deep well of pain. Throughout his life, he has faced personal tragedies and dealt with criticism from many fans. Yet, against all odds, the former two-division champion has firmly established himself among the sport’s elite, standing alongside legends like Conor McGregor and Jon Jones.
The heartbreak of losing his daughter Kaedyn became a powerful motivator in Daniel Cormier’s journey to greatness. In 2003, he faced his worst nightmare when Kaedyn tragically died in an accident. Reflecting on that devastating moment during ESPN’s E:60 documentary in 2019, ‘DC’ shared,
“I called the highway patrol, and they told me there was an accident on the highway. They said people were injured, but there was only one fatality, and it was her [Kaedyn]… Just some guy being irresponsible. Not paying attention. The baby was strapped in exactly as she was supposed to be. The guy slammed into the back of the car. She died at the scene. We buried Kaedyn in Killeen, Texas. I remember her casket being so, so small. So small. I just remember looking at her in that casket and not understanding why stuff like this keeps happening.”
Despite the heartbreak, Daniel Cormier has found a way to move forward. Though the pain may never fully fade, he continues to grow older surrounded by the love of his family. His son, Daniel Jr., is already training in wrestling at AKA, following in his father’s footsteps. It will be fascinating to see if he can carry on his dad’s legacy. Feel free to share your thoughts below.
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