5 oldest fighters to win a UFC title for the first time

#4. Daniel Cormier – won the UFC light-heavyweight title at 36 years, 2 months

Daniel Cormier was one of the UFC's most successful older fighters.

When Daniel Cormier won the UFC heavyweight title from Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 in July 2018, he became one of the oldest champions in UFC history at the age of 39.

However, his first title victory, which came in May 2015 at UFC 187, saw him claim UFC gold at the age of 36 years and two months. That made him one of the oldest first-time champions in UFC history.

The victory didn't come without a bittersweet taste, though. 'DC' first challenged for the UFC light-heavyweight title four months before UFC 187, only to fall to a crushing defeat at the hands of his bitter rival Jon Jones.

At that point, it looked like Cormier would go down as one of the greatest fighters to never hold a UFC title. However, Jones' personal problems soon reared their ugly heads, forcing the promotion to strip him of the championship.

A fight between Cormier and top contender Anthony Johnson was then booked for the vacant title. 'DC survived a brutal knockdown in the early going to submit 'Rumble' in the third round to finally claim UFC gold.

The fact that Cormier never actually defeated his rival to win the title must've left a sour taste. However, six years later, with 'DC' now retired, it's arguable that his overall accomplishments outstrip those of Jones. Add to that the fact that he did so outside his athletic prime makes his accomplishments even more impressive.

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#3. Michael Bisping – won the UFC middleweight title at 37 years, 3 months

Michael Bisping's title win was one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.

For a long time, it felt like Michael Bisping was destined to forever be the bridesmaid, never the bride when it came to winning a UFC title.

'The Count' became a UFC fighter in the summer of 2006 at the age of 27 after winning the third season of The Ultimate Fighter. It was clear that the brash Brit was destined for major stardom with the promotion.

Sure enough, Bisping quickly became the poster boy for the UFC in the UK and across Europe. However, despite pulling off some huge victories, it felt like he simply couldn't get over the final hump and win the big one.

'The Count' came close to title shots on numerous occasions. However, losses to the likes of Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort always seemed to knock him down at the last hurdle.

By 2016, injuries and age were starting to mount up for Bisping. So when he edged out former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva in front of his own fans in London, it felt like the high point of his career.

Incredibly, though, 'The Count' found himself in a last-minute title fight just four months later. In one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, he knocked out reigning UFC middleweight kingpin Luke Rockhold to finally claim gold.

The fact that Bisping did it at the age of 37 made him one of the UFC's oldest first-time champions. Doing so at the end of a storied, up-and-down career only added to his reputation as a fighter who simply never gave up, no matter how many times he was knocked back.