Light heavyweight title-holder Daniel Cormier has been a UFC fighter dating back to 2013 and a UFC champion since 2015, but he sees and carries himself as so much more than that.

The Lafayette, Louisiana native knows that holding the prestigious gold means that more eyes, big and small, are on him and that is not a position that he takes lightly or shies away from in any fashion.

"The responsibilities are such that you have more things to do for the organization, there are more things accessible to you by being the champion," Cormier told TSN.ca. "It's different, but I enjoy it because I like the responsibility of having to be, almost a guiding light for kids from my type of situation where they look at me and say, 'I remember Daniel.'

"The parents say, 'Daniel used to run around the corner here and he was running around playing in the streets just like you and if you want, you can be anything' and so I like being that light for them, especially in more urban communities.

"I think that's one market where we don't spend as much time, so I like it a lot and I think (welterweight champion) Tyron Woodley enjoys it too.  The cultures are different, (strawweight champion) Joanna Jedrzejczyk being from Poland can provide that to people that don't get to see it, I enjoy that."

Cormier has not only risen to the top of the light heavyweight and very near the top of the pound-for-pound rankings, he's also made his mark on the sport as one of the best analysts both in studio and, more recently, as a colour man on UFC broadcasts.

"It's very important to be aware because so many kids are watching and it's amazing when I'm walking around the parents notice you, but sometimes you'll see a little kid and it's like that kid is watching," said Cormier.    "I think it's very important to have strong role models, especially in these times. If I get booed by the adults, the kids are still watching, even though it may not be the coolest thing.  Adults love Conor McGrego,r but do I want my kid cussing all over the place like Conor McGregor? No. So I want to provide that alternative, a different, more adult role model and I think that's what I've been doing."

At the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on December 10th, Cormier will put his light heavyweight title on the line in a rematch with Anthony "Rumble" Johnson.

Their first meeting saw Cormier step into a fight that was supposed to be Johnson versus champion Jon Jones, but after the champion vacated the belt, it became a bout to crown a new title holder.

Cormier earned a thir- round, rear-naked choke submission victory over the hard-hitting Johnson to fulfill his dream of holding UFC gold.  Now to protect both his position and stature in the game, he'll have to beat Rumble again, an improved challenger this time, he wagers.

"He'll be a better version of himself, he'll be more patient," said Cormier.  "Last time, I think every punch he threw he tried to knock me out, every kick, everything was rushed.  I believe he'll be a better version of himself, but I'm going to be better too.

"That's the issue with winning the first one, do you settle? He has more things to go back and improve on, I can't look at the first fight and say that I did X, Y and Z incorrectly.  I have to give him a better Daniel and I feel like I'm going to be a better Daniel because I'm a better fighter than I was when we fought last May.  I've got new training partners, new coaches and I'm better today than I was in the first fight."

Don't be fooled, Cormier might see himself as more than a champion, but he also really enjoys holding the gold.  While he has many other things going on in his life, he isn't close to prepared to give up being the best light heavyweight fighter in the promotion.

"I love everything about being the champion, my son loves it, he always tells his friends, 'My dad has five belts' because [of ones] from Strikeforce, King of the Cage and UFC.  I love that he loves it, I love that he sees his dad as a tough guy," said Cormier. "For my legacy, I need to defend this title again, one title defence is not enough for me.  Even though I've won two fights since I've won the belt, I want to rack up a whole bunch of title defences, I want to get this one and then move on to the next one until I'm done, I want to keep the belt until I retire."

Before he hangs them up might also involve one more bout with former champion and forever rival Jon Jones.  The pair have met once, a unanimous decision victory for Jones at UFC 182 that is Cormier's only loss.

They have also been scheduled to fight three times that didn't happen -  a UFC 178 bout that was lost to a Jones injury, a UFC 197 bout that was scrapped due to an injury to Cormier and a UFC 200 bout that went by the boards after Jones was flagged for a USADA violation the week of the fight.

Cormier is happy to be dealing with a fighter not named Jon Jones.

"I just needed a break from it, UFC 200 was tough, that was hard to deal with," said Cormier. "Emotionally, after everything I put myself through, physically, it was very difficult to deal with that, so I needed a break. This fight with Anthony has given me that, I get to focus on something different.  Also, I don't know how long he's going to be gone for, so I think some time away from it will be fine."

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Tickets for UFC 206 at the Air Canada Centre are on sale now, visit UFC.ca for more details.