EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT STIPE MIOCIC (BUT WERE TOO AFRAID TO ASK)
A No Holds Barred Look At The MMA Champ And Ohio First Responder.
By Devin Pangaro | September 14, 2023
Size and stature notwithstanding, it’s understandably easy to be intimidated by an icon like Stipe Miocic. Be it his rock-solid resume of UFC records, his vital work as a Cleveland-area paramedic and fireman, or his decade-plus legacy of landing knockouts as the UFC's most formidable heavyweight fighter. He’s a powerhouse in every sense of the word. He’s also an individual that we’re proud to call a GOVX member, collaborate with, and firmly have in our corner. Want to know more about the most feared man in the fighting business? Touch gloves and tap in.
STIPE’S FACTS
BORN: 8/19/1982
BIRTHPLACE: Euclid, Ohio
HEIGHT: 6’4″
WEIGHT: 235 lbs
STIPE’S STATS
Heavyweight Division record: 20-4-0
15 wins by knockout
5 wins by decision
4 title defenses
2x Heavyweight Champion
HE’S ONE HELL OF AN ALL-AROUND ATHLETE
A three-sport star in high school, Stipe crushed baseballs collegiately in front of interested MLB scouts, slugged his way to a Cleveland Golden Gloves championship, and competed on his Division 1 wrestling team before ever getting in the Octagon. Making Strong Style MMA Training Centre his home gym soon thereafter, he excelled in both mixed martial arts and boxing before setting his sights on UFC supremacy after just one year of training.
HE’S A FULL-TIME FIREFIGHTER AND PARAMEDIC
After previously serving on a part-time basis for over a decade with the Valley View (OH) Fire Department, Stipe took the leap to full-time duty in 2022 as a firefighter for the Westview (OH) Fire Department. Routinely doing his part to help his community, Stipe logs 12-and 24-hour shifts while sticking to a rigorous physical training schedule to stay ready for his next fight. In between all the truck checks, emergency calls, and EMT duties, he’s been known to keep things light around the station with his arsenal of jokes, pranks, and good-natured ribbing.
HE’S A NATURAL ACTOR AND STAR OF A SUCCESSFUL LINE OF GOVX TV SPOTS
When not bringing the smackdown live, Stipe can be found gracing both the small and big screen while appearing as himself in Showtime’s hit dramatic series BILLIONS and truTV’s comedic look at firefighter life, TACOMA FD.
Seeking to harness his on-screen talent, we teamed up with Stipe in 2021 to bring to life a collection of commercials that put him in his element and tasked him with educating his station on the perks of being a GOVX member.
HE STARTED HIS CAREER WITH A NINE-FIGHT WINNING STREAK
Perhaps even more impressively, none of these fights got past the second round. Stipe’s debut run was nothing short of dominant, hitting the UFC with a fury and never looking back. A start that soon catapulted him to main event matches.
HE SET TWO UFC RECORDS IN ONE FIGHT
During UFC Fight Night 65 on May 10th, 2015, Stipe matched up against Mark Hunt registering a victory by TKO in the 5th round. In control from the onset, Stipe set the record for most strikes landed in a fight and largest strike margin, to the tune of a 361-48 beating when it was all said and done.
HE TEAMED UP WITH A CLEVELAND BROWNS LEGEND TO START A COFFEE COMPANY
In partnership with NFL Hall-of-Famer Joe Thomas, Stipe formed All Cleveland Coffee to give back to the Cleveland community by pledging to donate four meals to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank with every bag of coffee sold.
HE’S GOT HIS OWN PIZZA
In partnership with Romeo’s Pizza, proceeds from the purchases of The Fireman’s Pizza help support local firefighter departments. The Stipe-endorsed pie features pepperoni and fittingly – Carolina Reaper cheese.
HE LIKES TO KEEP THINGS SHORT
Stipe is one of a small fraternity of fighters to earn three or more knockouts in less than 60 seconds. In fact, he’s the only heavyweight amongst the pantheon of Andrei Arlovski, Fabio Maldonado, Philip De Fries and Corey Mullis.
HE’S COMING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP BELT (TBA)
After a healthy hiatus, Stipe was set to return to the ring for the UFC Championship on Veterans Day, November 11th at Madison Square Garden in NYC. Unfortunately, an injury to the defending titleholder Jon Jones has delayed this highly anticipated match until 2024. Report back here for further updates.