Stipe Miocic is the 4th ranked heavyweight in the UFC. However, as UFC president Dana White frequently explains, fighting in the UFC is not a career, it is an opportunity. As it turns out, Miocic has a day, and night job, as a firefighter and paramedic in Valley View, OH, outside of Cleveland.
Matthew Florjancic has the story, for WKYC.
“When I got done with school, I didn’t want to work behind an office desk or anything like that, so I went back to school to be a paramedic and for firefighting,” said Miocic. “After that, I got hired in Oakwood. Eventually, I got hired in Valley View and just love doing it.
“I was actually doing it before I really joined the UFC. I was fighting, but I was fighting here and there, getting better, learning. I got hired before I signed with the UFC, a couple years before that.”
“I’m still on shif. I work a lot of nights because it’s part-time. I pick up a lot of nights and weekends and stuff where it won’t interfere with training. If I have to work during the day, I just figure a way out to do it.”
“I always wanted to be a firefighter/paramedic. Of course, that’s what I’ve always wanted to do. Fighting, I just never thought about it. Everybody always said, ‘You should do it.’ I was like, ‘Eh,’ but then, I helped a guy out at the gym. The whole getting punched in the face thing wasn’t really my thing at first, but then, I got hit a few times and it wasn’t so bad. Now, it’s okay.
“Some guys like getting hit. I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s okay.’”
Miocic explained that the best feeling in the world is not getting a world title shot, it is helping out someone in need.
“If I can help someone out, there’s no question,” said Miocic. “I love helping people. I love being a fireman. It’s always something to have as a back-up plan. You never know, and plus, it makes my mom happy.”
In a Road to the Octagon profile, Miocic says even when he gets the heavyweight championship, he will still be a firefighter.
Miocic fights Junior dos Santos in the main event of UFC on FOX 13, live Saturday night.
