LAS VEGAS (AP) – Stipe Miocic has been the UFC’s heavyweight champion for more than two years, calmly dominating the most tumultuous division in mixed martial arts during a record three title defenses.
Yet deep in his core, the longest-reigning heavyweight champ in UFC history has embraced the fact he’ll always feel like a firefighter from Cleveland whose life took an amazing detour.
“When I walk into the octagon and they lock the door, I’m like, ‘Well, I can’t leave now,'” Miocic said. “It’s fight or flight, and you’ve got to fight. It’s a little surreal, though. You look across the cage, and you’re like, ‘Huh. I’m fighting Daniel Cormier. Awesome. I watched this dude when I was an amateur.'”
Real life for Miocic (18-2) isn’t under the bright lights of Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. He’ll take a moment in that cage to appreciate the brilliant absurdity of being in a superfight against Cormier (20-1), the imposing light heavyweight champion, in the heavily anticipated main event of UFC 226 on Saturday night.
Real life is at home in Cleveland, where his pregnant wife is attempting to wait to deliver their first child until he gets home. Real life is in the firehouses in suburban Oakwood and Valley View where he still works as a firefighter and paramedic, fitting in several shifts each week between MMA training sessions.