by Over the weekend at UFC 309, heavyweight Stipe Miocic announced his retirement from MMA. Miocic will go down as one of the greatest heavyweights the UFC has ever seen. He is Croatian American, originally from Euclid, Ohio, but he fights out of Independence, Ohio. He works as a firefighter in Valley View, Ohio, when he is not fighting. Miocic is one of the most decorated heavyweights of all time. His career has been dominating, with a record of 20-5. Let’s look back at Stipe Miocic’s incredible career.
Early Career
Stipe Miocic joined the UFC in 2011 and debuted at UFC 136, where he fought Joey Beltran. He won his debut fight via unanimous decision. It took Miocic only a short time to make a name for himself in the UFC. He built an impressive resume showcasing his knockout power and wrestling skills. Miocic had some notable victories early on, defeating Philip De Fries, Shane del Rosario, and Gabriel Gonzaga. He suffered a loss via decision to Stefan Struve in 2012. However, he rebounded with wins over top fighters Roy Nelson and Fabio Maldonado.
Championships
He earned his first title shot after defeating Mark Hunt and Andrei Arlovsk. He won his first heavyweight title in 2016 at UFC 198 via a first-round knockout against Fabricio Werdum. The fight lasted only two minutes and 47 seconds, and Miocic celebrated by running around the octagon yelling, “I’m the world champ.” He set a UFC record for the most title defenses in the heavyweight division with three successful defenses. He defeated Alistair Overeem in 2016, Junior dos Santos in 2017, and Francis Ngannou in 2018.
Daniel Cormier Trilogy
Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier met for the first time in the octagon at UFC 226 in July 2018. Miocic lost the heavyweight belt to Cormier after a first-round knockout. The two would meet again at UFC 241 in 2019, where Miocic would be crowned heavyweight champion. He beat Cormier in the fourth round via technical knockout. The pair would complete the trilogy at UFC 252 in 2020. Miocic cemented himself as one of the greatest heavyweights when he defeated Cormier again via unanimous decision. In my opinion, this was one of the greatest trilogies in UFC history.
Recent Fights
At UFC 260 in March of 2021, Miocic fought Francis Ngannou for the second time. Ngannou had improved his wrestling defense and striking abilities. In the second round, he knocked Miocic out to strip him of the heavyweight title. This was the last time that Miocic would be champion. He decided to take a step away from competing. In November 2023, it was announced that Miocic would fight Jon Jones at UFC 295. However, Jones suffered an injury during training that required surgery, and the fight was postponed. Miocic and Jones met in the octagon at UFC 309 a year later. Jones defeated Miocic via technical knockout in the third round. After this fight, Stipe Miocic told Joe Rogan he would be retiring. “I’m done. I’m hanging them up.”
Achievements
- Won the North American Allied Fight Series title before joining the UFC.
- Won a Golden Gloves boxing tournament
- Two UFC Heavyweight Championship
- Most Successful Title Defenses in UFC Heavyweight History (4)
- Earned multiple “Performance of the Night” and “Fight of the Night” bonuses for spectacular performances.
- Holds the record for the longest cumulative fight time in UFC heavyweight bouts
- 2016 Fighter of the Year
- 2016 Knockout of the Year
- Frequently ranked among the greatest UFC heavyweights of all time by MMA media outlets and analysts.
Conclusion
Stipe Miocic’s career has been wildly successful. Both inside and outside of the octagon, he has the essence of a true champion. Being a two-time UFC heavyweight champion shows his skill, determination, and resilience. Miocic’s legacy is not just defined by his records but also by his sportsmanship. His retirement at UFC 309 marks the end of an era, but he will go down as a legend in the UFC. He will definitely be in the UFC Hall of Fame as soon as he is eligible.
