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Music Plays].
Just from what I've done, it's been, you know, amazing.
I would never think in a million years that I, the opportunities I've gotten,
you know, being, you know, professional fighter, you know, being every champion,
winning and multiple times and, you know, being sponsored and just, uh,
you know, uh, opportunity, I would take it, you know,
of course then wherever the opportunity yet, I'm going to give it 110%.
But I just, all I care about is make sure my family's taken care of.
My childhood, it was awesome because where I lived,
it was kind of like the Sandlot, all the kids lived there. So, I mean,
we would legit, I would wake up at eight in the morning.
I get five dollars from my grandpa. I asked for a dollar,
but you're gonna be like five bucks.
And I would buy these Ice Tea's called Damon's for a dollar,
half gallon ice teas. And t his, I would drink the whole day. I would never eat.
And we played baseball, football, basketball, whatever, we'd swim all day.
And I get home by eight or nine o'clock at night. And, uh, it was pretty sweet.
You know, I just, uh,
we had a lot of good athletes around my area and we played some big football
games and baseball games. It was just fun, honestly.
And I think in doing that every day almost, you know, was, uh,
definitely made me the person I am today.
Did you get into fights as a kid?
No, I hated fighting. I'm the type of guy,
I try to like find a way to get out of it or like, you know, Hey it's okay.
You know, and I'll never forget,
I was like 11 or 12 years old and I was at the pool that were the city pool.
And when the guy got, I knew the guy to like splash one of his face and he,
he was so mad dude that he just ironically had me against the fence and just
straight pieced me up, dah, dah, dah. I mean, I didn't drop,
but I cried a little [inaudible]. But I was,
physical like altercation, but no, I would never, I would never, in a million years think I was gonna fight and be mixed martial artist. I would never think that in a million years.
Well, we brought them in because he was a wrestler, you know, and he was longer.
And he, I was training Dan Bobish at the time who fought in UFC 14.
It was just a long time ago. Right. And I,
but I think Dan was getting ready for like a pride fight or something though,
because he had to move into pride. And so we had a mutual friend said, well,
I have a guy that wrestle for Cleveland state and come in, you know,
and he's about two-twenty, or something like that, you know? So I said, okay,
bring them in. So Bobish was a D three national champ, right.
Stipe comes in and nobody really took Dan down, you know?
And Stipe comes in and shoots in a single or double single and Dan sprawls,
you know, like crazy, great, perfect sprawl, everything. I said, well, you know,
he's not getting, he's not going to take us. And then Stipe was like this,
you know? And I was like, no, you know, and I was like, Holy [inaudible] .
I started training, you know, helping Bobish, Dan Bobish out.
And then I started sparring and I told my dad, Hey Dad,
I think I'm gonna try this mixed martial arts thing.
And the first thing my dad says, you have a great nose for it.
What was he talking about? And I found out real quick, why. It's
pretty flexible. So thank God, I'm not going to, thank your dad. Yeah.
I think at the minute I started learning mixed martial arts, and everything.
Muay Thai. Jiu-Jitsu. I
would go on YouTube and watch all fight videos and techniques.
And I would just kinda, you know, learn, and like,
I think a lot of people don't understand, like when you learn something,
you made to your, your ability, not that person's ability,
you can't make it as perfect to them.
Cause like they might do it a certain way that you can't,
but you can do it a certain way they can't. So make it your own.
I still do it now. I'm watching, I'm not watching as much anymore,
but I love every second of it. The bond I have with my team,
you know, like, my head coach Marcus, he's just, that's my dude, man. That,
Guy is, uh, I learned a lot from him, you know,
especially like the whole loyalty part and just the way he is around people.
And that's why I'm at that gym, that gym is not so much about fighting,
it's about our family and they really, that's a big part of it. I just ah, very,
very lucky. He's actually the godfather to my daughter.
That's how much I love the guy. He's he's my everything, dude.
I wouldn't be here today, if it wasn't for him.
5 Unbelievable. I tell everybody too, he walks in here, right.
He's getting ready for camp. You know, people are very respectful, you know,
but they're like, Hey, could you sign these gloves.
It's like Valtrex, plus Abreva.
I've never seen it, but good luck with that. Had your name on it,
Well I read it, it had your name on it. It said please use by sold whatever.
Alright. Bring it tonight so I can put it on.
But he never changed. He'd been the same all the way through. It's incredible.
You know what I mean? Honestly,
that's why I was attracted to him as a fighter for us, but also being his coach.
And then that's how we became friends. Like I said, he walks in here,
people asking him for, he's late for practice or something and they say,
Could you sign some gloves? And he'll be like, Oh yeah, you know,
you want me to hold your child and take a picture?
Like he offers stuff that usually most guys wouldn't do, you know?
And I just sit back and he just, it's awesome.
Who is Stipe Miocic? Ahh, just a normal guy, nothing different.
Loyal as they come, um, you know, I, uh, listen,
you got my back, I got yours. And, but the minute you f it up, you're out,
you're dead to me. And that's one thing about me.
Like I carry my heart on my sleeve and I'm always gonna be there to help you
out, even though you might not have helped me, but you're a good guy to me.
I'm still gonna help you out because that's just the type of person I am.
I believe in karma. I,
I love what I do.
And the reason that I love what I do is because I never work a day in my life.
I think, uh, a lot of people hate what they do, you know?
And I've been very lucky to be surrounded by a lot of good people.
And also I'm able to take care of my family,
make sure that my daughter's taken care of, my future son will be, you know,
and especially, My wife who's been, you know, my rock.
Being a fireman and a fighter, they, they go hand in hand.
It's part of the same. I think in every situation,
if it's on a scene or in the Octagon, you gotta be calm, collected.
You can't be going crazy because you're going to lose everything.
You're not going to be thinking straight. You're gonna do dumb stuff.
So they might not go right,
but you still have to be focused knowing what you're doing and not being crazy
about it and figuring it out.
You know, just overall too, let's make a point here, like,
I think he hates losing more than he loves winning. If that makes sense.
Yeah. I can't stand losing.
I just losing is what drives me because I never want to fail.
But fortunately, you know, in life you're gonna have failures,
but I think it's what you learn from the failures make yourself better. And I,
it didn't matter if it's tying your shoe,
I'm gonna try to beat you tying my shoe. Like I'm very competitive as they come.
Yeah. So, you know, I lost DC. Uh,
it was July 7th, 2018. And uh, you know, I lost, you know,
I got knocked out by a guy, I shouldn't of got knocked out by, but he.. Listen,
he's a gamer. He caught me with a shot I've never saw. And you know,
I don't know. And ahh, so, after I lost the fight, did the press conference,
got a private jet, and went home.
And that was probably the longest three and a half hours of my life.
I was drinking some beers, playing some cards, just trying to get my mind right.
Try you know.. It sucked and then got home. The best
thing that ever happened to me,
that saved me mentally was I had my daughter two weeks later.
So I couldn't worry about the loss. I gotta worry about her.
I don't think she'll really understand until she's older,
how much she really did for me. Because if it wasn't for her,
I, I probably be going crazy in my mind. Why, why the heck did I lose?
Why the heck did I lose? Yeah. And then, you know,
going back to the gym and just had a new purpose, man. You know,
and just when I wanted to show my daughter that sometimes life never goes your
way, but it's how you get back up and get what's yours.
When's the switch happen?
Uh,
the switch happens is when I walk into the Octagon and the door closes behind me
and CLICK and I go, Oh, can't leave now. I look across the cage,
I look at who I'm fighting.. Alright.
And uh, they say now, Ready, Set, Fight. alright, it's fight or flight.
Yeah. Funny in front of a ton of people should be like 45,000 in Brazil.
And I fought for the title for the first time. It was a little crazy,
but it's like riding a bike. The more times you do it, the better you get.
So I mean the more fights I have, I got more comfortable and listen,
I still get the nerves because you got to have the nerves.
If you don't have the nerves, you're not ready.. Because in this sport,
anything can happen. You don't know, it didn't matter if the guy,
might not be the hardest puncher, but you could still get knocked out, you know,
you might be the greatest submission artist, but guess what, you can get caught,
you know, and there's nights where guys will be better than you.
So you have to be ready for all of that.
He's not this guy that has been in a million street fights and just is real
mean, you know, but he's a fighter, you know, he's a great fighter.
People see his demeanor and then they talk to him and they don't realize how
tough he is. I think it was the Overeem camp.
He'd knocked out like seven people in two weeks. Right.
We spend a lot of time dragging people out of the cage,
making sure they are okay.
Never stop. Get what you want. You know, nothing's ever given,
it's earned and to have fun. Cause the problem is, no one has fun anymore.
If you're having fun and enjoy the process, you never work a day in your life.
If it's here. It's good. When you lunge head first,
all the power goes out. If you're gonna unload, that's okay. It's your round!
You gonna let me steal one? Let's go!
Let's go, baby!
Winning. I like winning. Winning's all I want to do.
Hate losing. I will do whatever I have to do to get that win.
I've been doing it for awhile because, I have the best coaches in the world,
best team in the world best teammates, amazing family, my wife, my mom,
my daughter. I have it all. Well, man,
it's never going to stop because it's not just me, it's all of us.
We are all in this together. When I win the title again, I'm the champ,
it's not really... it's everyone's
the champ because everyone put every sacrifice, something for me,
we all sacrifice to get where we're at today.
And that's why I'm never gonna stop.
That was fun. That was good, after a rough week. You know..
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