The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
From heavyweight contender to champion
A look back at Stipe Miocic’s rise to arguably the best heavyweight in UFC history
Stipe Miocic’s UFC match results from contender beginning in 2011 to heavyweight champion and the first to successfully defend the belt three consecutive times:
UFC 136: Oct. 8, 2011
Miocic def. Joey Beltran in three-round unanimous decision. STIPE SNIPPET » In Miocic’s UFC debut, he faced a fighter in Beltran that went by the nickname “The Mexicutioner,” but the future champ laid the foundation of being a tireless worker in this bout. He had 68 strikes in three rounds, including four takedowns.
UFC on FUEL TV: Feb. 15, 2012
Miocic def. Phil De Fries by first-round knockout. STIPE SNIPPET » This bout marked the first KO of Miocic’s UFC career, and earned him “Knockout of the Night.”
UFC 146: May 26, 2012
Miocic def. Shane Del Rosario by second-round knockout. STIPE SNIPPET » Each fighter was 8-0 in their MMA career entering this bout, and the first round was a battle, as each fighter connected for 32 strikes before Miocic finished off Del Rosario in Round 2.
UFC on FUEL TV: Sept. 12, 2012
Stefan Struve def. Miocic by second-round knockout. STIPE SNIPPET » It was a tall order for Miocic against the 7-foot Struve, and a costly slip in Round 2 spelled doom for Miocic. That slip left an opening for Struve, who landed a solid right and finished off Miocic. It’s the only time in Miocic’s UFC career he’s lost by KO.
UFC 161: June 15, 2013
Miocic def. Roy Nelson by three-round unanimous decision. STIPE SNIPPET » Miocic rebounded from the Struve loss with an impressive performance vs. Nelson. He connected on a whopping 106 strikes in three rounds.
FOX UFC Saturday: Jan. 25, 2014
Miocic def. Gabriel Gonzaga by three-round unanimous decision. STIPE SNIPPET » Miocic made it two straight with another dominant performance, as he won the battle for strikes, 63-29.
UFC Fight Night: May 31, 2014
Miocic def. Fabio Maldanaldo by first-round knockout. STIPE SNIPPET » It was Miocic’s first knockout in more than two years, and he did in quick order. He dropped Maldanado at the 4-minute mark of Round 1.
UFC Fight Night: Dec. 13, 2014
Junior dos Santos def. Miocic by five-round unanimous decision. STIPE SNIPPET » This was the first big test of Miocic’s career against the former champ dos Santos. Miocic controlled the bout early, but dos Santos rallied in the latter rounds to earn the unanimous decision. It was the card’s “Fight of the Night.”
UFC Fight Night: May 9, 2015
Miocic def. Mark Hunt by fifth-round knockout STIPE SNIPPET » This bout is arguably the most dominant of Miocic’s career. He out-hit Hunt a ridiculous 361 to 46 and was in control 16 minutes and 9 seconds, compared to Hunt’s 3 seconds of control.
UFC 195: Jan. 2, 2016
Miocic def. Andrei Arlovski by first-round knockout STIPE SNIPPET » After dropping Arlovski in 54 seconds, Miocic went off on UFC president Dana White screaming for a title shot. “He was like a psycho. I wasn’t going to say no,” said White. With the win, Miocic became the No. 1 contender and was set to fight for the world heavyweight championship.
UFC 198: May 14, 2016
Miocic def. Fabricio Werdum by first-round knockout STIPE SNIPPET » In front of 45,000 Brazilians in Werdum’s home country, Miocic stunned the crowd with a short right to the chin of Werdum, and the Miocic era officially began.
UFC 203: Sept. 10, 2016
Miocic def. Alistair Overeem by first-round knockout STIPE SNIPPET » A raucous home crowd at Quicken Loans Arena watched the champ get knocked down with an Overeem left, then rally a few minutes later with a KO of Overeem from the top position after a takedown. Miocic jump on top of the octagon, straddled a railing and began ‘OH-IO’ chants.
UFC 211: May 13, 2017
Miocic def. Junior dos Santos by first-round KO. STIPE SNIPPET » It was a much different result in the rematch, as Miocic secured his second straight title defense by rocking dos Santos with a right that sent the challenger’s head into the cage.
UFC 220: Jan. 20, 2018
Miocic def. Francis Ngannou in five-round unanimous decision. STIPE SNIPPET » Despite being the champion, Miocic was the underdog, but proved the doubters wrong with a dominant performance that allowed him to become the first heavyweight in UFC history to successfully defend the belt three straight times. Ngannou came out swinging but by the second round was exhausted. Miocic had 70 significant strikes and six takedowns.