Stipe Miocic is an outstanding fighter.
Stipe Miocic, also known as ‘The Silencer’ and ‘Stone Cold Stipe,’ is the current UFC World Heavyweight Champion.
Miocic was born to Croatian immigrants in Cleveland in 1982. He was an outstanding athlete, and he played baseball, football and wrestled while at Eastlake North High School. He attended Cleveland State University where he was scouted for Major League Baseball teams.
Miocic participated in the Cleveland Golden Gloves Tournament and won. As an amateur boxer, he has one loss. Under the tutelage of trainer Alex Cooper, Miocic debuted in MMA winning his first five fights by knockout.
Since Miocic signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC in 2011, he has dominated the sport. Working as a firefighter and paramedic, Miocic trains when he can under co-trainers of the year, Joe Dulguyd and Alex Cooper at the Old School Boxing/ Strongstyle Gym.
Miocic made his UFC debut against Joey Beltran on October 8, 2011 at UFC 136 and won the fight via unanimous decision. He then faced Phil De Fries on February 15, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger. Miocic won the fight via first round KO, and in the process won a “Knockout of the Night” award.
Miocic faced promotional newcomer Shane del Rosario on May 26, 2012 at UFC 146, and he won via TKO in the second round.
Miocic faced Stefan Struve on September 29, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV 5. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round. The performance earned both participants “Fight of the Night” honors.
This defeat inspired Miocic to train even harder. Within a short time, he was back in the ring with a string of victories.
Miocic recently faced Werdum at UFC 198 on May 14, 2016 in Brazil where he caught Werdum with a short right hook counter while backpedaling away from a flurry of punches in the first round, earning the championship and giving Werdum his first defeat since June 2011.
With this win, Miocic broke the 51-year-old Cleveland sports
curse. Miocic was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus for the fight.