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UFC champion Stipe Miocic carries brotherhood of firehouse into The Octagon

UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic carries the brotherhood of the firehouse into The Octagon.
Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (red gloves) goes in for the finish against Junior dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 211 at American Airlines Center in Dallas on May 13, 2017.

CLEVELAND -- Most professional fighters do not have another day job, unless it is teaching classes at the same gym in which they train, but Cleveland native Stipe Miocic is not the typical practitioner of mixed martial arts.

While training to defend the UFC heavyweight championship, Miocic holds firefighter/paramedic positions in the cities of Oakwood Village and Valley View, and plans to remain on the job despite the demands of the fight game.

“It’s awesome,” Miocic said of being champion. “It’s not even work. It’s just friendship. We all have each other’s backs, and those guys are there to support me, no matter what. If I need a day off, they cover for me or I cover them.

“It’s just a back-and-forth between us, and they don’t look at me any different. I might be the heavyweight champion of the world, but I’m the same guy that walks in, blue-collar guy, cleans toilets and mops the floors. Nothing changes, but that’s what I love about it. They’ll all be there to support me in Boston, and I’m excited.”

During a documentary interview with UFC light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, Miocic recounted the story of helping to save the life of a woman experiencing cardiac arrest.

“I love helping people,” Miocic said. “My whole life, I’ve been helped, and it’s the least I can do to give back. That’s why I like being a firefighter/paramedic. Whatever I can do to help give back to the community, I’m there.”

UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (red gloves) celebrates after he defeats Junior Dos Santos (blue gloves) during UFC 211 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

When Miocic is not fighting fires, working to save lives as a paramedic, battling inside the Octagon or training for an upcoming bout, he is doing what can be done to better the community.

This past summer, Miocic tossed out the ceremonial first pitch of the Little League Challenger Division tournament in Parma, and he stays active in the community as a way to find balance.

“They’re totally two different realms,” Miocic said. “It’s a definite 180, but in both, you have to be cool, calm, collected under pressure, and I think they both work for each other.”

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