UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic has one of the most impressive resumes you will find. His record includes current and past stars and champions.
The Ohio native is currently riding a five fight win streak, here’s the names he’s beaten, in order:
- Mark Hunt
- Andrei Arlovski
- Fabricio Werdum
- Alistair Overeem
- Junior dos Santos
That list includes three former UFC champions, five household names, and five world class fighters. After a close decision loss to JDS, he defeated Hunt and Arlovski, both by TKO, before capturing the heavyweight title against Fabricio Werdum via first round KO.
His two title defenses have came against Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos, two of the most highly regarded strikers in the UFC’s heavyweight division. Miocic has stopped both men in the first round.
He has world class level wrestling, striking, and has never had to show off his grappling in the UFC. Coupling that with violent power, and a pinpoint right hand, Stipe is one of the best, and most dangerous champions in the UFC. He’s also the baddest man on the planet – a label that comes with the heavyweight crown.
With such a high skill set and such highly regarded names on his record, why isn’t the 35-year-old such a big star? At the end of the day, I believe it comes down to his mouth. No, not literally his mouth, but the amount of ‘trash talk’ he gives out.
Stipe has always been a guy that prefers to do his talking with his fists, and this could be why he isn’t one of the UFC’s biggest stars. In the modern era, it’s almost impossible to become a star if you aren’t quick witted and aren’t afraid to throw insults about.
Whether he’s a big star or not, it’s undeniable that Stipe is one of the most talented fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and it will take something special to take the heavyweight title from him.
