The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Bet against Miocic? Good luck with that
UFC heavyweight champion is smashing through challengers; now the big question: Who’s next? DALLAS >> Junior dos That’s been the Santos turned his bald norm of late: Miocic head to a group of reporters faces a tough, top to show the 10 opponent and disposes damage that had been him in short order. inflicted at nearly 1 a.m. May 14 in Dallas. The breakdown in
It wasn’t pretty. Red his last three fights welts donned the back before the dos Santos of it, as if someone had bout: taken a mini whip to it. • Andrei Arlovski, Jan. 2,
It wasn’t a mini whip. The 2016: Miocic won by KO in battle scars were courtesy of 4:06. the heavyweight champion of • Fabricio Werdum, May the world’s extra-large hands. 14, 2016: Mioicc won by KO It was evidence of yet another in 2:14. beatdown by Eastlake • Alistiar Overeem, Sept. North graduate Stipe Miocic 10, 2016: Miocic won by KO in what can only be described in 4:27. as another destruction. Those were three victories
It’s been a Miocic massacre against three quality opponents as the champion continues to in less than a combined lay waste to the heavyweight 11 minutes. division.
Miocic took out dos Santos in the main event of UFC 211 in 2 minutes, 22 seconds with a vicious right, then a series of lefts to his head that left those welts on the back of dos Santos’ head.
There’s an opponent waiting in the wings for Miocic, but at this stage of his career, which Coach Marcus Marinelli calls Miocic’s prime, who can beat him? Who would be willing to bet against him at this point.?
The answer to both appears to be no one and no one.
It might be a case of the UFC running out of worthy challengers. When Miocic fights next is up in the air. On several occasions during his post-fight news conference, the champ said he needed to “take some time” and that he had “a lot of things to think about.”
Miocic would not elaborate, but as long as he remains “the baddest man on the planet” UFC nation will be watching. In particular Miocic’s next bout. One more win puts him alone as the only UFC heavyweight to defend his belt three times.
Potential opponents include the winner of the upcoming Fabricio Werdum-Alistair Overeem bout at UFC 213 in July.
“I always watch the fights, and I’ll watch that one,” said Miocic. “They’re both veterans, so it’s going to be a very, very interesting fight.”
UFC president Dana White said former champion Cain Velasquez is hoping to return in the fall. Miocic and Velasquez have never fought, so that
could be the title bout to make.
Whatever the future matchup, White knows he has a red-hot fighter on his hands in Miocic, and one on the doorsteps of history.
“It’s crazy, but yeah, it will be tough to say he’s not (the best of all time with another win),” said White. “If he’s beyond that, he’s a (bleeping) hall of famer.
“The guy’s come into his own. He’s an unbelievable fighter. He’s pretty bad ass.”
Miocic’s next fight will be a hot UFC ticket. Fans loves winners, and love dominance. They love dynasties.
They also like sure bets, which Miocic’s is quickly becoming.
Whether he’s a bankable star for White and the UFC is another matter. Miocic will never be a lightning rod such as Conor McGregor.
“If they want to promote me, great,” said Miocic. “But I’m never going to change.”
Here’s the proof: Miocic will report back to work as a fire fighter at the Oakwood Fire Department station on May 18.
“I’m just a normal dude that walks down the street,” said Miocic. “I put my pants on one leg at a time. I’m a normal dude.”
Miocic might be just a normal dude, but he’s an extraordinary MMA artist and a champion on an extraordinary run.
Betting against him at this point in his career is a losing proposition.
History awaits the champion. Now’s the time to ride the Miocic momentum train.
Contact Podolski at MPodolski@NewsHerald.com; On Twitter: @mpodo.