“I’ve finished now. I’m going to hang them. I’m retiring. Thank God”. These were the last words that Stipe Miocic (20-5), 42, said as a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter in the UFC octagon. This past Saturday, at UFC 309, Miocic returned to the most important cage on the planet after more than three years since his last fight. The goal was not at all easy. I had to defeat Jon Jones, the best in the history of sports and win the heavyweight championship belt again.
Unfortunately for him, this task proved too much. Jon Jones was superior throughout the fight, until in the third round a spinning kick to the body ended up putting Miocic’s knee on the ground to end the fight. It was an open secret, but in the post-fight interview Stipe Miocic announced his retirement from the sport. However, this defeat does not overshadow his record, since with six victories in championship fights within the UFC, he is undisputedly positioned as the best heavyweight that has passed through the company.
Stipe Miocic could be defined as a true martial artist, due to his impeccable attitude inside and outside the cage. What’s more, while competing in the UFC he continued his work as firefighter and paramedic in Ohiohis hometown. The goal was simple, I wanted to help people. Sports have also been present in his life from an early age. He practiced boxing, wrestling, baseball and American football, until 2010 when he entered MMA professionally.
In just over a year he had already accumulated six winsall of them finished before the limit. This caught the attention of the sport’s largest company, the UFC. He debuted on October 8, 2011, with a decision victory against Joey Beltran, and there began the rise of what in a few years would be the best in the history of the category. With eight victories (5 finished) and two defeats inside the most famous cage in the world came his opportunity for the belt. On May 14, 2016, he knocked out Fabricio Werdum in the first round, proclaiming himself UFC heavyweight champion.
After that would come his first record. He accumulated three consecutive defenses of the belt, something that no one had been able to do earlier in the division. However, on July 7, 2018, he would lose the heavyweight throne to Daniel Cormier when he was knocked out. But a true champion is one who does not give up in adversity, gets up and keeps fighting. In August 2019, Stipe Miocic would beat Cormier in the rematch to regain his scepter, and he would do it again in 2020 to end the rivalry.
With these two victories he would surpass another mark, that of victories in championship fights. With six in total, he surpassed the five owned by Randy Couture and Tim Sylvia. But all good things come to an end. In 2021 he would be knocked out by Francis Ngannou. He lost the belt and had to stay out of competition for more than three years. At that time things moved a lot in the division, and for his return he had to face Jon Jones, the best of all time in the sport.
The result was not what was expected. He couldn’t beat Jones and ended up losing again. At 42 years old and with a dream career within the eight walls, the baddest firefighter on the planet Say goodbye to sport. Now he will dedicate his days to his job as a firefighter and his family. Without a doubt an example of sportsmanship, effort and the importance of retiring on time, before your career continues to get dirty.
