JRE MMA Show #5 with Stipe Miocic

Joe Rogan (0:00)

Oh, guy, they're everywhere. You Ohio folks, stick together.

Stipe Miocic (0:04)

Don't mess around.

Joe Rogan (0:05)

Yeah, what is it about Ohio? We live, what is it about Ohio? All you Ohio guys, like, Ohio? You know what, we're Cleveland, Columbus. You guys all stick together.

Stipe Miocic (0:13)

See that, man, that's how we do it, man. Just good people.

Joe Rogan (0:16)

Even when you won the title, you're like, Cleveland, we got a champ!

Stipe Miocic (0:19)

Yeah, O-H-I-O.

Joe Rogan (0:22)

What is it about Ohio? Why does everybody love it so much?

Stipe Miocic (0:25)

I don't know, man, I just think it's the mentality of people. That just the people are awesome.

You know, I don't know, it's just hard to explain. I think you just gotta live there. Like, you know, there's people that have lived in other states and moved to Cleveland or Ohio, and they're like, man, you know, I get it now. I see why you guys like, you guys are so like in-depth with each other. You guys are awesome. Like, you guys love each other. And I'm like, yeah, man, we just, it's like it's our own nation.

Joe Rogan (0:47)

It is weird. Like, Columbus in particular is like one of my favorite places to visit. It's like one of the, it's like, I get the weather sucks a lot, I get it, but the people are so damn nice. Like it's like overall, it's like a really good spot.

Stipe Miocic (1:01)

Yeah, yeah. Actually, I love Columbus too.

I've had a bunch of blurry nights there. Well, down there I went to brothers and all that good stuff. But it's, I love Columbus too. It's one of them, you know, they'll do one on there and especially for like, we go down to Arnold and stuff like that. Just checking it out. And you know, they have a couple of MMA fights and our local shows too.

We have a lot of our coaches go down there for local MMA shows.

Joe Rogan (1:25)

Remember when they used to do the UFC with the Columbus, with the Arnold?

Stipe Miocic (1:28)

Yeah.

Joe Rogan (1:28)

That was a big event. That was a bit, I wonder why that stopped.

That was always a lot of fun.

Stipe Miocic (1:33)

I remember the one time that StrikeForce there, that's when Ron Arousey like, Pull the sucker up closer to you. Sorry, I suck at those. This is my first podcast, be gentle.

Joe Rogan (1:40)

Is it?

Stipe Miocic (1:40)

Yeah. Really?

Joe Rogan (1:41)

How the fuck is a heavyweight champion in the world never been on a podcast before?

Stipe Miocic (1:45)

Well, I've been on a podcast like over the phone, but not like in studio. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, so, but I think Strikeforce is when Rousey and Tate fought, and it's when she had dislocated her elbow.

Joe Rogan (1:57)

Yeah, yeah.

Stipe Miocic (1:57)

Was that one of them, I think it was?

Joe Rogan (1:58)

I think that was one of them, yeah. I think so, yeah. Back in the day. So what's it like walking around the UFC heavyweight champion in the world?

How's that feel?

Stipe Miocic (2:08)

It feels good. It doesn't really matter in my household, I'm like fourth on the ladder, it's my wife and the two dogs, and then me, I'm there just to pay bills.

Joe Rogan (2:17)

It feels like that sometimes, right? Yeah. Money machine.

But, so, is everything good now? You finally got a title fight. You finally got a real challenger, in Francis Ngano, on January 20th. How do you feel about this?

Stipe Miocic (2:32)

Well, I think he's a great fighter. Definitely, he brings it. It's hard, but fortunately nothing's gonna change. I'm walking out with the belt still wrapped around my waist.

You know, I'm excited for him. He's gonna shop, but as long as I'm here, no one's gonna be champ.

Joe Rogan (2:47)

Damn. You have to have that mentality.

What do you think about him that's unusual? What about him, other than the size and the strength, what stands out?

Stipe Miocic (2:57)

I mean, his power, I guess, but I think everyone in the heavyweight division, 260 pound man, 250 pound man, I mean, you're not supposed to be hit by something like that. And JD, I fought JD SFR and Austin, I fought Mark Hunt. I mean, I got guys who do hard. Yeah, you know, and, you know, he just thought he's a little wild, too, which is that's tough. You know, sometimes you can't prepare for that.

Because there's punches you don't see.

Joe Rogan (3:22)