The Croatian Domination
Start writing a post
Sports

The Croatian Domination

The Pride of CLE has already made history, but there is still plenty of incentive to continue watching.

93
The Croatian Domination
pexels

Rocky Balboa is one of the most recognizable names in movie and sporting history. The Italian Stallion. The Pride of Philly. The movie series has put out seven installments chronicling the life of a boxer named Rocky. His bouts against Apollo Creed, Ivan Drago, and Clubber Lang are among the most memorable images in all of fighting history. Rocky is a hero in Philly, even having a statue in his likeness erected. But Rocky Balboa is really just a character in a movie. Stipe Miocic, The Pride of CLE, The Croatian Domination*, is not.

Born in Euclid, Ohio, Stipe Miocic attended Eastlake North High School and then Cleveland State University. Competing at the Division 1 level for baseball and wrestling, Stipe was brought in to train with Dan Bobish at Strong Style MMA while also becoming a paramedic and firefighter. After joining the Strong Style gym and training in boxing for eight months, Stipe switched to MMA where he eventually won the NAAFS heavyweight championship. Stipe would go on to sign a contract with the UFC in 2011.

On January 20th, Stipe defeated Francis Ngannou by unanimous decision to become "arguably" the greatest heavyweight champion in UFC history. I feel comfortable calling him that because Stipe now holds the record of most consecutive title defenses in heavyweight history. His bout against Ngannou was about as close to Rocky against Drago and Clubber Lang as we may ever see in the real world. With a three-inch reach advantage as well as 20 pounds on Miocic, Ngannou also holds the record for the strongest punch force ever. That being without the aid of Russian scientists and performance-enhancing drugs. Unlike Rocky in his bouts against Lang and Creed, Stipe bested Ngannou on his first try to retain his belt. Like Rocky, Stipe came from somewhere and rose to rightfully earn his place in history. Stipe also helped ignite one of the greatest sports runs in all of Cleveland sporting history.

On May 14th, 2016, as I sat with a group of my closest friends, Stipe Miocic handed Fabricio Werdum his first loss in five years, making Stipe the heavyweight champion of the world. In his post-fight interview, he proudly and ecstatically announced to the world that Cleveland finally had a champion. This being in reference to the fact Cleveland had not won a major sports title since 1964. Less than a month later, the Lake Erie Monsters won the Calder Cup, bringing it home to Cleveland for the first time since 1964. Only a week later, the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Championship for the first time in franchise history, ending a major sports drought that lasted 52 years. Now, Rocky was pretty incredible, but did he do anything quite like that?

My favorite part about Stipe is his visceral connection to the city of Cleveland. In UFC, you often hear when fighters hail from Brazil or Ireland and how much pride in their homes those fighters have. It becomes a huge part of their identity and something that their fans often relate to on a level beyond simply cheering for a fighter. They are cheering for their home. They become patriots and these fighters are pseudo-soldiers. Fighters from New York or California don't usually have the same passion that Stipe does for his hometown. Cleveland has more than enough passion to go around for their teams. There is plenty leftover for a guy who seems to share the same pride in their city as they do.

Stipe Miocic, The Croatian Domination, The Pride of CLE, The Baddest Man on the Planet. If you haven't already been watching, you've missed MMA history. But don't worry too much about it now. When Stipe faces off against Cain Valasquez (probably), you can tune in to witness greatness again. A victory against Valasquez would be unprecedented and quite frankly unrealistic. That's right, you heard it here. If Stipe wins his next bout against whoever is opposing him, it most certainly should not have happened. But if anyone is going to continue to do the impossible, it's Stipe Miocic.

*It should also be said that during his fights Stipe's nickname is not The Croatian Domination. He is known simply as Stipe Miocic which is, quite honestly, bolder than any nickname could be.

**All biographical information was obtained from Stipe Miocic's Wikipedia page.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

933212
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

109378
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lots of people sat on the cinema wearing 3D glasses
Pinterest

Ever wonder what your friend meant when they started babbling about you taking their stapler? Or how whenever you ask your friend for a favor they respond with "As You Wish?" Are you looking for new and creative ways to insult your friends?

Well, look no further. Here is a list of 70 of the most quotable movies of all time. Here you will find answers to your questions along with a multitude of other things such as; new insults for your friends, interesting characters, fantastic story lines, and of course quotes to log into your mind for future use.

Keep Reading...Show less
New Year Resolutions

It's 2024! You drank champagne, you wore funny glasses, and you watched the ball drop as you sang the night away with your best friends and family. What comes next you may ask? Sadly you will have to return to the real world full of work and school and paying bills. "Ah! But I have my New Year's Resolutions!"- you may say. But most of them are 100% complete cliches that you won't hold on to. Here is a list of those things you hear all around the world.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Ultimate Birthday: Unveiling the Perfect Day to Celebrate!

Let's be real, the day your birthday falls on could really make or break it.

55231
​different color birthday candles on a cake
Blacksburg Children's Museum

You heard it here first: birthdays in college are some of the best days of your four years. For one day annually, you get to forget about your identity as a stressed, broke, and overworked student, and take the time to celebrate. You can throw your responsibilities for a day, use your one skip in that class you hate, receive kind cards and gifts from loved ones and just enjoy yourself.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments