The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Helping people is Miocic’s ‘go-to now’
Fans of UFC champion Stipe Miocic have been wondering ever since he re-claimed the heavyweight belt in August 2019 when his return to the octagon would be.
Recently while in New York City promoting a new brand of coffee, Miocic gave those fans a hint of his return when he said a rematch with No. 1 challenger Daniel Cormier would likely be this summer.
The outbreak of novel coronavirus has changed all of that. With the sports world in a virtual lockdown — the UFC was one of the last sports league to shut down — Miocic has his sights set on something much more important: helping people.
Miocic is well-known as not only one of the great UFC heavyweights of all time but as a part-time firefighter in the Cleveland area. The Eastlake North graduate said in a recent interview with UFC’s
Megan Olivi his work week at his firehouse — one he expects to be very busy — began the evening of March 23.
News of when he fights Cormier for a third time can wait.
“With this going on now, I’m not worried about that,” said Miocic. “I’m worried about fire-fighting, paramedics. Doing what I got to do. That’s my go-to now. There’s too many people that need help. I signed up for that. I’m OK with that.”
Miocic provided some insight about what distress calls and arrivals are like as a firefighter and paramedic while the country faces this pandemic. Medical experts predict a spike in COVID-19 this week nationwide, and that’s likely the case in Ohio. So Miocic and his co-workers expect a busy week. Bigtime precautions will be taken, he said.
“Goggles, masks, we always wear gloves,” said Miocic. “The dispatcher, we have to ask them if they have flu-like symptoms just so we know what we’re expecting when we show up … I think this week will be a little bit different. Coming up, I think (the coronavirus) is really going to hit harder.”
As for time at home with his wife Ryan and young daughter Meelah, the Miocics — like many — are basically on stay-athome lockdown mode.
Miocic also provided an update on his injured eye, which he suffered in the Cormier fight last August. An eye poke from Cormier didn’t prevent Miocic from rallying and posting a fourth-round knockout to win back the belt. However, the eye poke did result in a detached retina and subsequent surgery for Miocic.
“Doing better,” he said. “Still (see) spots, but going day by day.”
As for his training, Miocic said he’s been “working out when I can.” That includes running and biking, but the rest has been put on hold as his Indepedence-based gym Strong Style — like all others in Ohio — closed because of COVID-19.
“I really haven’t been doing a lot,” said Miocic. “Just healing up.”