The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Miocic’s legacy already intact in UFC at age 38
After losing heavyweight title, question of what’s next looms
During a visit to Stipe Miocic’s gym, I asked the now former UFC Champ if he intends to fight into his 40s.
During a recent visit to Stipe Miocic’s gym — Strong Style in Valley View — I asked the now former UFC champ if he had any intention of fighting into his 40s.
Perhaps, I thought, Miocic was inspired by future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady of the Buccaneers winning a Super Bowl at age 43. Or after watching LeBron James, who prepped in Northeast Ohio around the same time as Miocic, win an NBA title last fall a few months before turning 36.
Miocic turns 39 in August, and he might be at the crossroads of his career after a devastating loss to Francis Ngannou, who is now the UFC heavyweight champ after knocking out Miocic 52 seconds into Round 2 of their title fight March 27 in Las Vegas.
Following the fight, he was taken to a hospital in the Las Vegas area for precautionary reasons. Miocic’s wife Ryan posted a photo on social media with the line, “He’s alright, still my hero.”
When Miocic talks, the eventual question will be what’s next? He recently told The News-Herald he has no intention of fighting into his 40s the way Brady continues to play QB at age 43.
“I don’t want to,” said Miocic when asked before the Ngannou fight about fighting into his 40s. “It’s a lot different (than Brady’s situation).”
QBs in the NFL take huge shots, but nothing like the shots Miocic took against Ngannou and in previous fights, especially during his trilogy against Daniel Cormier. That trilogy lasted three years. Miocic endured two long and difficult fights in 2019 and 2020 to win back the belt and defend it after he lost to Cormier in 2018.
Perhaps the effects of the past three years took its toll. Or perhaps Ngannou, 34, was too big, too powerful and too good. Perhaps it was just Ngannou’s time. It’s probably a combination of all those factors. That’s up for debate.
What should not be a debate is Miocic’s place in UFC history. He’s without question the most decorated heavyweight in history, and many say the greatest heavyweight in history.
The results are difficult to ignore. A 20-4 record includes records for most consecutive title defenses (three), most total title defenses (four), title fight wins (six) and total strikes (1,537).
“The legacy’s been the set,” said Miocic’s coach at Strong Style, Marcus Marinelli. “The legacy was set after the second (Cormier) fight.”
That fight was August 2019, when Miocic rallied to secure a dramatic fourth-round KO that gave him back the belt, and put him on his way to defending the belt again vs. Cormier a year later.
Miocic’s reign, however, came to an end against Ngannou. A path to earning another title shot seems murky — mostly because it might take time. And time might not be on Miocic’s side in this instance.
UFC president said if Jon Jones — the former light heavyweight champ who plans to bulk to heavyweight and fight Ngannou — can’t agree to a deal then top contender Derrick Lewis could be next in line to fight Ngannou. A key could be if Miocic has a rematch clause in his contract.
If not, Miocic might have to fight a non-title bout for the first time since 2016 — if he decides to stay in the game. Marinelli said prior to the Ngannou fight the trilogy vs. Cormier was difficult but the silver lining was that the last two bouts were spaced a year apart. In 2016 — when Miocic won the belt for the first time — he fought three times.
“He likes the time away,” said Marinelli about Miocic.
“He like spending time with his family. He’s earned it. That’s why he’s lasted this long.”
The topic of Miocic’s future is never discussed — said Marinelli — unless the Eastlake North graduate brings it up to him. In that case, Marinelli said he gives “a little bit of an opinion.”
Sooner rather than later, though, the end will be approaching for Miocic. Then again, perhaps it’s not. Miocic could be thinking there’s more to accomplish.
Either way, Marinelli will be there for support.
“Set your marks, set your legacy, make your money for your family … I told him, ‘Life’s good, regardless.’ “he said. “It’s a very unforgiving sport. It’s easy to get hurt, especially in this division. He’s my friend, first and foremost. I don’t want to see him get hurt. I don’t want to see him suffer.
“We’re not going to put pressure on him. At some point, he’ll make his decision.”