The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Miocic’s reign at two years; he’s better than ever
Two years, three title defenses and a legacy that’s still growing.
From the outside, that sums up Stipe Miocic’s reign as UFC heavyweight champion, which began two years ago on May 14, 2016.
That night in Brazil, the Eastlake North graduate and parttime fire fighter knocked out former heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum with a short right to the chin in Round 1. In a blink, the Miocic era begun. It hasn’t stopped since. That’s because Miocic refuses to go easy on himself, and in turn his coaches refuse to do the same.
He’s as tough as they come in the UFC, but in many ways a gentle giant. It’s likely that’s just how he’s wired. Perhaps it’s being amplified because fatherhood is just around the corner.
When asked to sum up the last two years of his life during his heavyweight reign, Miocic’s three words to The NewsHerald were: “Blessed” “Lucky” “Grateful” That’s Miocic in a nutshell. Always humble, and always working tirelessly to stay on top.
Back in the early part of this decade, Miocic was emerging as a heavyweight contender, and was determined to become the heavyweight champ. That was when he was in his late 20s.
Now that Miocic’s on top, and arguably the greatest heavyweight in UFC history, he keeps fighting with the same grit that got him there in the first place.
“I like being the champ,” Miocic has said numerous times during his two-year reign. “I’m not giving up the belt.”
At 35, and with he and wife Ryan expecting a daughter in August, how much longer Miocic wants
to stay in the fight game could become a legitimate topic after 2018.
For now, his sights are set on the next man in his way — light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. The two will trade blows in the main event July 7 in Las Vegas at UFC 226. It’s being touted as a super fight, a battle of two champions. Big bucks will be on the line — perhaps more than a million dollars for each fighter. Cormier hinted at that in January 2017.
”I did speak with him. I called Stipe,” Cormier told bloodyelbow.com. “I told Stipe ‘for $500,000, I’m not fighting Stipe Miocic.’ I threw out a big(ger) number and said for that number, I’m fighting Stipe Miocic. (Stipe) goes, ‘I love you.’ ”
Whether they are were fighting for $1 million or $100, expect nothing but Miocic’s best against Cormier. Coach Marcus Marinelli is known for putting his fighter through grueling camps leading up to bouts with the end game being come into a fight expecting a fiveround tussle, but hope for a quick knockout.
Even with that philosophy, Marinelli sees something developing for the Cormier fight.
Said Marinelli in April before the camp for Cormier began: “Stipe already looks ready.”
That’s the maturation of
Miocic.
First, he learned what it took to become heavyweight champion.
Then, he learned how to deal with fame.
He learned how to defend his belt.
He learned how to keep an edge.
And finally, he’s learning to build a legacy within the UFC.
The KO of Werdum on May 14, 2016 was the start of it. What followed were first-round KOs of Alistair Overeem at Quicken Loans Arena in September 2016, and Junior dos Santos at Dallas in May 2017.
Miocic then delivered the defining performance of his career in a fiveround unanimous decision victory over up-andcomer Francis Ngannou in Boston.
Now it’s time for Miocic to craft the next chapter in his heavyweight reign. It will be written in less than two months in Las Vegas.
Two years is a long time on top in the volatile world of combat sports. To do that, a fighter has to evolve. Ask any great athlete, and they’ll tell you the same thing: You never stay the same. You’re getting better or getting worse.
In Miocic’s case, go with the former.
Contact Podolski at MPodolski@News-Herald. com; On Twitter: @mpodo.