UFC heavyweight Stipe Miocic answers the Ultimate Eight

The popular Croatian American has amassed an impressive 13-2 record

Stipe Miocic in action (Josh Hedges/ Zuffa)

Stipe Miocic has carved out a deserved reputation as one of the toughest fighters in the UFC, and the third ranked Heavyweight will fight Ben Rothwell in Dublin, Ireland next month.

The popular Croatian American has amassed an impressive 13-2 record inside the Octagon, but but balances his fighting career by firefighting in Oakwood, Ohio.

Ahead of a fight which could determine him as the number one contender for UFC Champion Fabricio Werdum, Miocic answered The Ultimate Eight.

You’ve been involved in martial arts for much of your life, but can you recall the first time you became interested in the sport?

I’ve wrestled my whole life, and when I got done with college I went back to school to become a firefighter. I liked MMA, but I didn’t really know if I wanted to get punched in the face! So I trained at a gym while I was at school, and a guy asked me if I’d help him train for a fight.

I said sure, so I started wrestling with him and then I never left the gym. I started training and getting hit, and it wasn’t that bad. I just loved it.

You made your MMA debut in August 2006 when you defeated Dave Bush in an amateur fight. What are your memories of that time?

Walking in I was terrified, nervous and didn’t know what to expect. Then I hit him with a good uppercut, he turned his back, and when I kept hitting him the referee jumped in. I was so relieved, it was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life, and made me love this sport even more.

Training is an arduous process which tests fighters to the limit, but is there anything about it that you enjoy?

When I’m done, and I get to go home and take a nap.

Talk us through your choice of walkout music, you came out to Till I Die by Machine Gun Kelly in your last fight. What was the reason for that?

I picked him because he’s a Cleveland guy too, and I love his music. It pumps me up and gets me motivated. Music wise I like anything with a beat to it. With walkout songs, I pick something to keep me going, and to rile me up.

How do you like to relax away from the sport, do you have any interests or hobbies?

I hang out with my girlfriend and my dogs. We watch Netflix a lot, I love watching Orange Is the New Black, and I play video games, like Call of Duty. Sometimes I’ll get mad at them though, and talk smack to a ten year old kid or whatever!

What is the greatest MMA fight of all time?

The Hendricks/Lawler fights, those were just epic. Both were non-stop, I couldn’t stop watching, and it was hard to look away. I watch those as a fan, and to see two guys fighting like that for 25 minutes is crazy.

With the exception of beating people up for a living, what is your greatest skill in life?

Just being a nice guy! Outside of the Octagon I’m passive, quiet, and I like to have fun and joke around.

How are you going to defeat Ben Rothwell on October 24 in Dublin?

I’m gonna beat him at every aspect of MMA, wherever he wants to go. I’m gonna dictate the pace and push it. I’ll beat him on the feet, beat him on the ground. It doesn’t matter which way it goes, I’m going to win the fight.