Miocic recalls the strange feeling of fighting in Brazil as he chooses the knockout over Werdum as the greatest of his career

Stipe Miocic in victory over Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198. Photo: Reproduction/UFC

Scheduled for the first title fight during his career in the Ultimate, Stipe Miocic traveled to Curitiba, at UFC 198, in search of stealing the belt from Fabricio Werdum in the heavyweight division (up to 120,2 kg). Protagonist of a devastating triumph over the Brazilian, the veteran stated that this was the most satisfying knockout of his career as a professional MMA fighter.

“When I won the title in Brazil (it was the best knockout). Because there were 45.000 people there, and 44.990 were Brazilians speaking Portuguese, telling me I was going to die. I had 15 family members and friends there, and then I hit him, and he was out. I was hearing, ‘Yay, a new champion,’ and it was really annoying because, like, it was silent, it was weird, but it was great,” Miocic said in an interview with BIGPLAY Sport Network.

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In addition to Werdum, Miocic also made Overeem a victim of his power in his first title defense. Fighting at home, in the city of Cleveland in Ohio (USA), the fighter recalled the unique feeling of performing in front of his people.

“Of course, the fight here in Cleveland was amazing too. It’s funny, I talk about anxiety, I don’t have a lot of anxiety, and during that fight, to go out there and have everyone chanting my name, it was surreal. People dream about these things, and I get goosebumps just thinking about it now. I couldn’t catch my breath. I was fighting and I was like, ‘This is not good. What do I do?’ Then (Overeem) hit me and knocked me down, and I was like, ‘I’m good now. Let’s do this.’ So I got on top and knocked him out, and I was like, ‘Thank God, it could have been a lot worse,’” he concluded.

Stipe Miocic knocked out A. Overeem at UFC 203. Photo: Reproduction/UFC

Retired from MMA, Miocic hung up his gloves after a tough defeat to Jon Jones in his last appearance in the octagon. At 43 years old, the fighter is considered by many to be one of the best heavyweights in the history of the sport, after accumulating 20 triumphs and five defeats.