MMA
UFC 260: For Stipe Miocic, there's more to life than being UFC heavyweight champion
To many people, being the UFC heavyweight champion gives one the distinction of being cast as "The Baddest Man on the Planet." Having that moniker bestowed upon him doesn't bother Stipe Miocic heading into his next title defense, a rematch against Francis Ngannou at Saturday's UFC 260.
Inside the famed Octagon, Miocic is Mr. Incredible who crushes everyone in his path. Outside of the cage Miocic is Bob Parr, and that suits him to a tee.
Miocic has a two-year-old daughter, Meelah, with his wife, Ryan. She is pregnant with their second child, a son, who is due in August. Talking about his kids makes Miocic perk up and speak in a way we never expect from him.
"My daughter is already here, and she's two-and-a-half," Miocic told DAZN News. "By the time he's around, she'll be three, three-and-a-half when he starts walking but closer to four. So she can actually make him do everything and make him like, I swear, be his b—.
"I'm glad I had a daughter first. Of course, she's always going take care of me. She could do no wrong. But once she gets older and he gets older, she's going to beat him into being a gentleman and be like, 'Hey, don't be an ass— . You'll be respectful.' You mean just like that's, that's tricky. Kids only listen so much to their parents. But it's just a different level. She's going to check him and be like, 'Listen. Don't be an ass—'."
Miocic has started to dabble in other ventures, including the Stipe Miocic Extra Strength Coffee, gaming, and his podcast with his two closest friends titled J.A.B.s (which means Just Awkward Buddies). Getting into the world of podcasting is something that's been in the pipeline for a few years that came to fruition in December.
"It's what I love to do," Miocic said. "The podcast has been in the making for four years now. When we went to the World Series in Chicago when we (Miocic's hometown Cleveland Indians) faced the Cubs. My buddies Jamie and John, we're driving down there together to go to the game. I invited Jamie, and John just found his way, bastard. If it wasn't for him doing that, we probably would never have came about. We were talking nonstop for five-and-a-half, six hours, and we didn't stop talking. He's talking about everything. I thought this would really be good for a podcast. After four years, we finally started."
The 38-year-old part-time firefighter and paramedic in Valley View, Ohio, has no problem acknowledging that doing interviews isn't his favorite thing to do. He knows he's not quote-giving machine like Conor McGregor. He'd rather talk about other items which don't involve him.
"I don't want to talk about myself or what I do," Miocic wholeheartedly admits. "I like to talk about other things. I want to get to know you. I want to know what's going on in your life. Like with my friends, most of the times, they don't talk about fighting with me at all. We go on Top Golf. They are my friends. That's why I have a real tight group of friends like an inner circle, I guess you would say. They rarely bring up fighting. We talk about everything else but that. I've never told him that. They just do it. They know like, 'Why the f— because I see it, why do I want to talk about?' I think that's why they are my good friends because we all think the same, and we all just want to hang out."
What will Miocic's legacy be once he retires from the UFC? Many view him as the greatest heavyweight in the history of mixed martial arts. He has the record for most title defenses in the history of the UFC heavyweight division at four, doubling the person behind him.
Miocic isn't sure how he'll be thought of in terms of how fight fans and pundits will view him once the gloves come off for the last time. All that matters in his eyes is how his children will look at him and the path he carved for them.
"It's a hard question," Miocic said. "I want to show people that hard work pays off. I earned what I got and was never given it. When kids get older, I'll tell them that I was a fighter and show them videos, pictures, and stuff like that. I went to tell them your dad was pretty cool, he's not a nerd, but was pretty tough, and he worked hard. But also, at the same time, I want to show them that hard work pays off, and I was a fireman at the same time. I worked hard at what I wanted. When they get older, work hard, and you will get it.
"My legacy is just be a good person. Don't ever be a d— to someone else. I just want them to be a good person overall and to be just a good level of person that cherishes everyone and works hard at everything no matter what it is."
