VALLEY VIEW, Ohio -- When UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is not training at Strong Style MMA or defending the title inside The Octagon, he shows his fighting spirit by helping those in need in his community.
In addition to being “The Baddest Man on the Planet,” Miocic is a firefighter/paramedic in the Cleveland suburbs of Valley View and Oakwood Village, and has maintained his career in community service throughout his seven-year run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
“Just helping people in their time of need because my whole life, I’ve been helped,” Miocic said while conducting a workout at the Valley View Fire Station.
“It’s my way to give back. I love being there for someone, especially when they need it. They just need comfort. Even though they might not be hurting bad, but just take them to the hospital, be with them and make sure they’re feeling better.”
PHOTOS: UFC Champion Stipe Miocic shows fighting spirit by serving his community
No matter how long he sits atop of the UFC heavyweight division, Miocic has no plans on quitting his day job.
“I worked so hard to get it,” Miocic said. “I don’t want to give it up.
“Plus, it made my mom proud. She said, ‘My son actually did something with his life,’ so I want to be that good son.”
Whether it be early-morning conditioning work, late-night sparring sessions, working out while waiting for calls at the fire station or researching opponents through intense video study with head coach Marcus Marinelli, Miocic has become known in MMA circles as a tireless worker.
But for Miocic, the desire to work hard is just his way of carrying on a family legacy.
“It’s that fighting spirit, honestly,” Miocic said. “No joke.
“My mom never stops. I think I have a busy schedule, and she makes me tired. If she’s not at work, she’s at the summer home doing something, and it’s never ending. It’s just having that mentality of never stopping, just trying to make yourself better and wanting more.
“You’ve got to go forward, and I learned a lot of that from my mom because she’s got that spirit inside of her and she just never stops. If I get 20 percent of what she does, I’m happy with myself.”
It is that kind of fighting spirit that Miocic plans on instilling in his daughter, who is due to arrive on August 1.
“My mentality my whole life and in everything I do is just ‘Never stop working,’” Miocic said.
“It’s always working hard. It’s always about pushing forward and making yourself better, and I just want to showcase to my daughter and if we have a son also or another daughter, however many kids we have, is just to show her right now no matter what you do in life, just work hard like your dad did.
“’I work my butt off. I want you just to work hard. Nothing’s ever given. It’s all earned. Respect what you have and be grateful.’”
Stream Live with fuboTV -Try Free Trial