It takes a particular type of courage for a person to fight inside a UFC cage and for them to also save lives for a living, and Stipe Miocic knows that better than anyone else. The former UFC heavyweight champion has also used his fearlessness and grit to be a firefighter for over a decade.
The 40-year-old Ohio native, who was sworn in as a full-time firefighter in 2022, started his journey as a first responder who worked part-time in the Oakwood and Valley View fire departments in Cleaveland. While Miocic certainly doesn't need to work as a firefighter while competing in the UFC, it's the humanitarian aspect of the job that lures him in.
Widely regarded as the greatest UFC heavyweight in history, 'The Silencer' has battled countless fires, seen multiple dead bodies, and saved numerous overdose victims as a first responder. After a decade of working 12 to 24-hour shifts, the city of Westlake, Ohio, inducted Stipe Miocic into their fire department as a full-time firefighter in February last year.
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In an interview with Marc Raimondi for ESPN, Miocic shared what drove him toward being a fireman:
"I love what I do. I work real hard here, and I love especially helping out people. Why would I give it up? Plus, it keeps my mind off MMA."
UFC 285: Jon Jones wants to fight Stipe Miocic after Ciryl Gane
Jon Jones is already looking beyond his scheduled bout at UFC 285 against Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title. As 'Bones' gears up to take on 'Bon Gamin' in his highly anticipated heavyweight debut on March 4, the former light heavyweight champion recently expressed his desire to fight Stipe Miocic next.
Jones and Miocic are both considered the greatest of all time in their respective divisions. With 'Bones' now moving up to the heavyweight division, it is no surprise that he wants to test himself against the best.
In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Jon Jones expressed his desire to face Stipe Miocic, acknowledging that the matchup would be a pivotal moment in his career. The former light-heavyweight champion stated:
"People consider him [Stipe Miocic] the greatest heavyweight of all time. The opportunity to compete against such a man, I'd be honored."
Watch the full interview below:
Since transitioning to a full-time firefighter, Stipe Miocic has been out of action for over a year. He tasted defeat in his last fight against Francis Ngannou in March 2021, where he lost the heavyweight title via a second-round knockout.