UFC champ Stipe Miocic still works part-time as a Ohio firefighter

VALLEY VIEW - If you need medical help in this Cleveland suburb and call 911, you may have current UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic respond to help you out.

Miocic, who has served as a part-time firefighter/paramedic for the Valley View Fire Department since 2010, hosted a workout Monday for media members as he prepared for a July 7 title defense against former Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier in Las Vegas in the upcoming UFC 226.

The workout included:

•    Battling Rope Slam / Hose Slam
•    Weighted Farmers Carry
•    Medicine Ball Slam
•    Tire Flips
•    Dummy Drag to Fire Truck
•    Firetruck Step-Ups
•    Tire Strikes

"I wanted to show what I do and highlight my passion," he said, adding that he has been training hard twice a day for a couple of hours each day. "The training (for the fight) has been going great."

Miocic is partnering with Modelo, which became the official beer of the UFC in January. His Monday workout was designed to showcase Modelo’s “Fighting Spirit” campaign, 

Miocic has successfully defended his title three times since he first took the title in 2016 by defeating Fabricio Werdum.

Miocic said he has a close relationship with firefighters in his department. 

"They are amazing," he said. "They are my brothers."

And he's respected by those he works with at the department.

"He's a big teddy bear," Valley View Fire Chief Ken Papesh said. "There's not too many Stipe's out there. He understands and represents us well."

Miocic said many firefighters from surrounding departments were planning on attending the July fight.

"It's amazing to see his success and how it hasn't changed him at all,"  Papesh said.