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UFC champion Stipe Miocic readies for next life experience: fatherhood

While coaching in Season 27 of The Ultimate Fighter, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic readies for his next life experience: fatherhood.
While coaching in Season 27 of The Ultimate Fighter, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic readies for his next life experience: fatherhood.

CLEVELAND -- The last two years have been a whirlwind for UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.

A graduate of Eastlake North High School, Miocic has conquered a lot of challenges, both in and out of The Octagon, especially in recent years, when his rise to the top of the division coincided with a career as a firefighter in two Cleveland suburbs, as well as marrying his wife, Ryan, just one month after winning the title in May of 2016.

Now, as Miocic settles in as coach of a team on season 27 of The Ultimate Fighter in Las Vegas, he is preparing for another life moment, the birth of his first child, a daughter who is due in early August.

“That’s what I’m excited about, but terrified at the same time,” Miocic told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour before leaving for Las Vegas. “Actually, mostly terrified, but I’m super-happy and excited.”

When Helwani asked about the gender of the baby, Miocic slyly admitted to expecting a daughter. Helwani pushed Miocic as to why he had a wry smile when addressing the idea of being a father to a daughter.

“I’m going to be mush,” Miocic said with a huge smile. “That girl’s going to have me wrapped around her finger. Whatever she wants, she’s going to get. It’s going to be bad.

“All my friends who have had girls have told me the same thing. They’re like, ‘there’s nothing like a girl. I’m telling you. The boys are awesome, but the girls are a different ballgame.’”

Stipe Miocic (red gloves) looks into The Octagon after defeating Junior Dos Santos (blue gloves) during the main event of UFC 211 at American Airlines Center in Dallas on May 13.

Miocic was selected to coach a team on the 27th installment of The Ultimate Fighter reality show just one week after successfully defending the UFC championship in Boston on January 20, and he has already relocated to Las Vegas for the taping of the series.

Although Miocic expected to go home for rest, relaxation and renovations on his house in preparation for the birth of his first child after successfully defending the championship against top-ranked challenger Francis Ngannou in the main event of UFC 220 at TD Garden in Boston, he was selected to coach in TUF 27 against light-heavyweight titlist Daniel Cormier.

Miocic and Cormier will face off in a super-fight for the heavyweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada on July 7.

“It’s looking good so far, unless she comes early,” said Miocic, whose daughter is due to arrive on August 1.

Stipe Miocic (red gloves) celebrates his win over Francis Ngannou (not seen) in the main event of UFC 220 at the TD Garden in Boston on January 20, 2018.

Heading into the fight with Cormier on the heels of the win over Ngannou, Miocic is on a six-fight winning streak. Miocic is 18-2 in his professional career and 12-2 in 14 bouts under the UFC banner.

And now, Miocic has even more motivation to continue defending the UFC heavyweight championship.

“The way I’ve always fought is securing my family’s future,” Miocic said. “I knew we were going to have a child, just didn’t know when, but I wanted to secure their future before they were born.”

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