Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Stipe Miocic on facing Brock Lesnar "It would be an early night for me", Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier

Episode Date: September 14, 2020

The baddest man on the planet, current UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic sits down with Chris Van Vliet from his home in Cleveland, OH. He talks about his trilogy with Daniel Cormier, what it was like winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship, how his training has changed due to Covid, building a champion's mindset, if he would rather fight Jon Jones or Francis Ngannou next, his thoughts on a possible fight with Brock Lesnar, who he thinks is the greatest Cleveland athlete of all time, why he still works his day job as a firefighter and more!  Please subscribe and support the show by supporting our sponsors!INDEED- Get a $75 credit to boost your job post by going to http://indeed.com/BlueWire BETONLINE- Get a new sign up bonus by using the promo code BLUEWIRE at http://bluewire.ag Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This podcast episode is brought to you by Coors Light. These days, everything is go, go, go. It's nonstop hustle all the time. Work, friends, family. Expect you to be on 24-7? Well, sometimes you just need to reach for a Coors Light because it's made to chill. Coors Light is cold-loggered,

cold-filtered, and cold-packaged. It's as crisp and refreshing as the Colorado Rockies. It is literally made to chill. Coors Light is the one I choose when I need to unwind. So when you want to hit reset, reach for the beer that's made to chill. Get Coors Light and the new look delivered straight to your door with Drizzly or Instacart. Celebrate responsibly. Coors Brewing Company, Golden Colorado.

This is Greg Olson, inviting you to check out my new Blue Wire podcast, TE1, where I interviewed tight ends throughout the history of the NFL who have helped revolutionize the position. TE1 is presented by the Chevy Silverado. The Silverado is all about grit. It's strong and dependable. exactly like playing tight end. Just like the incredible players we sit down with on the podcast, the Chevy Silverado is in a league of its own.

Strong, advanced, and dependable. Download TE1 today wherever you listen to podcasts. It's Chrysalmania, brother. That's a great question. Look at you, man. With the powerful questions. This is the Chris Van Vlead Show. Chris Van Bleed Show.

Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Van Ville. Welcome to or welcome back to the Chris Van Fleet Show. This episode is brought to you by Indeed and Betts Online. And thanks for being with us on this one. We have the baddest man on the planet. Joining us today, such a pleasure to be talking to my friend and the current UFC heavyweight champion, the greatest UFC heavyweight champion of all time,

Steppe Miochich, who I've known, man, I've known here. him now for eight years. Snap a screenshot. Let us know that you're listening. I'm at Chris Van Fleet. He is at Stepe Meochich. And make sure you're subscribed on whatever app it is that you're listening on right now. Because it's what a week we've got.

We got Steepay today. We got NWA women's champion, Thunderosa, tomorrow. David Arquette, who is, of course, the former WCW champion coming in on Thursday. Three in one week, three huge interviews in one week. honestly, we have just so many either recorded or scheduled to be recorded that, yeah, you may see three in one week. You know, the plan is always one in one week, right? One, at least one, Thursday for sure, Mr. Thursday morning. We've been throwing in two for the last, I don't know, six weeks, so two in a week, but yeah, three this week.

So I hope you don't mind. I hope you don't mind that. This review on Apple Podcasts is all the way from the Philippines. So please leave your reviews and I will read one out on every single episode. What a username here. Boner Yard fan. He says, I love it.

Your interviews are just a huge breath of fresh air from the typical wrestling podcast I listened to since last year. You have not disappointed me with the quality of those interviews pre-pandemic and you even want to notch higher in your interviews. I'm a regular listener to your podcast that I've lost count of my favorite episode.

I can't wait to hear who you'll be interviewing next. Stay awesome, Chris, from your fan here in Cebu City, Philippines. I hope I said that right. C-E-B-U. Cebu City. Well, thank you, Boner Yard fan. And for anyone who isn't aware, the boner yard was the name of one of the matches during Talk and Shopping Mania. Obviously, a play on the Bone Yard match, but yeah, Bonar Yard. Hey, maybe you can come up with an even more ridiculous username, and I will read your review on the next episode. So if you can beat Bona Ryard fan, let's see what we got. If we're doing three shows a week, it's three reviews a week that we'll be reading off here.

So not only is Steve Amiochich, the current UFC Heavyweight Champion and the greatest heavyweight champion of all time and the baddest man on the planet, he's also one of the nicest guys that you'll ever meet. I had the pleasure of meeting him when I was living in Cleveland. I lived there from 2010 to 2015. And I was able to do this story with him that I was so grateful to be able to tell this story. It got nominated for an Emmy. It was the story of him wanting to bring Cleveland

its first championship for the first time in nearly 50 years. And he's doing all of this while still working his day job as a firefighter. Well, that's what he did. In 2016, he won that championship. He broke Cleveland's curse. A few months later, LeBron and the cast, also won a championship, but it was all, I think it's all because Stipe,

Stipe broke that curse. He broke the curse so the calves could win. So we talk about why he still works his day job as a firefighter. What he gets out of that, how he gets recognized all the time too. How becoming a father has changed him. Who he wants to fight next? Is it Francis and Ghanu? Is it John Jones? And what his thoughts on a Brock Lesner match would be?

Very interesting thoughts. So, ladies and gentlemen, the reigning, the defending, undisputed UFC heavyweight champion of the world. It's Stepe Miochich. Well, it's great to be talking with the champ. Stepe, thank you so much for making this happen. Oh, man, thanks for having me, dude. It's good to be, you know, it's good to talk to you again.

It's been a while since we've connected. Yeah, I know. You think last time we talked, well, I mean, what did anything was you want to Emmy. That's right. Yes. I was very fortunate to be able to tell your story which got nominated for an Emmy. But this was before, for anyone that's watching this right now, look behind you. What an amazing, wow. There he is, the greatest heavyweight of all time. So it's been like five-ish years, I think, since we've connected. Obviously, a lot's happened in your world since then. Yeah, I mean, won a few titles, you know, had a baby girl, got married, you know. American dream, I guess.

You're doing it. Are you still living in Parma? No, no, I'm outside now, North Rolton. You didn't want to have the pink flamingos on your lawn, right? No, I don't mind. I love Parma. I love where we were at, but it's just that we got to grow out of it, you know. Well, when you bought the house, you weren't a father. A lot of the loss changed. Exactly.

Speaking of that, how has becoming a father changed you? Oh, I love it. every second of it, man. We're so blessed to have our daughter. And, you know, she's, my baby. She's a little sad. And she has no quit in her. Yeah, but I love, like, it's amazing. Like, I wouldn't change it. It's like the best gift I've ever got in my life. Do you think in any way it's changed to you as a fighter? Yeah, definitely it has. I think, you know, her being born just gives you more, more drive and more, you know, or give her a better life.

So when we look behind you there, we got one, is there six? How many do we have behind you, six? Six, yeah. So is this how it works? When you defend your title, they give you another one so you can put on display? I've kind of just taken them. I mean, I've asked a few times. Other times, no.

Well, when you're the baddest man on the planet, who's going to say no to you? Yeah, I mean, it helps, I guess. But yeah, I just, it didn't be great. You know, I'm like, hey, I take this. Like, whatever. You know, in the whole time that I've known you, you've been so driven. You've been so driven to be the absolute best at what you do. So when we first connected, man, seven years ago, the goal was bring a championship to Cleveland.

Break Cleveland's curse, win a championship for the first time in 50 years. You did that. I'm guessing the goal after that was retain your job. championship become the greatest heavyweight of all time you've done that what do you have your sight set on now you know a lot of things you know got stuff around the house got some wallpaper to take down i mean the the main things you know uh you know what i i get a get a shed in the house you know in the house but outside you know got a lot of stuff we're going to put away so it's not fun during the winter and we got to take all the furniture outside can't furniture down i'm

sticking out of a little storage area for my pool, which is that's just, it's like playing Tetris trying to stick that stuff in there. So I want to try to get a shift with a little bit easier next time. I like that your goals went from becoming the greatest heavyweight champion of all time to, you know, cleaning up around the yard a little bit. Yeah, I mean, yeah, you know, my wife, she's, I'm very lucky to be here my wife. She's a go-getter. And, you know, that's why I am too, but she does a little bit more. You know, I mean, like, she's, you know, she does more outside the box than me, you know. But, yeah, definitely, you know, her mentality helps me out. So I know we got a lot of things you got to do around the house.

The quarantine helped a lot. You know, we found out I was good at wallpaper. So I did a lot of wallpaper and those few months that were down. So, you know, yeah, I don't mind it, though. Keeps me occupied. And honestly, I didn't mind wallpaper. Actually, I don't, I mean, talking about it. It was the kind of therapeutic.

It's like I would think about things and just kind of just relax and just enjoy myself. That's so funny. I know, right? I think it would hate it, but it wasn't that bad. Were you also, like, involved in the wallpaper? Like, did you pick out the wallpaper? No, I just took it down. So we moved to a new house and then we, they had really nice wallpaper,

but we're just not really into the wallpaper type. You know, like, we left it up. It would look great, but it just weren't really feeling it. And so we were more neutral, like, you know, the neutral colors. So we had to take a kitchen down and a bedroom and a bathroom or spots, but it's not too bad. So you mentioned quarantine. How much has quarantine affected your training? You know, I thought it wouldn't.

So the one thing I've been telling me was I never wanted to put a gym in my house. And actually, right before the second VC fire, we moved a week prior. Yeah. Awesome. The house, you know, prior to this, the one ran out, was it hit a massive 3,000-square-foot barn. I was heated, so I could have put anything in there, but I never did because I never wanted to train in my house. It's my sanctuary. Yeah.

I go home and not worry about fighting. And I never started crying. You all right on a train. This is that I trained. So, you know, luckily one of my coaches had wrestling mats laying around, call the company, got hooked up with some of my walmats and, you know, go a little gym in my base, which actually in the hindsight, it was amazing. It was a blessing in disguise because I love training at home. You know, I had to see my daughter more. I mean, I'm always around, but just I had to put her a bet, put her in a bed, put her to bed.

She would come down, watching the train. She loved it. It was so much fun. We have an in-ground pool, so I did a lot of pool workouts. She was in the pool at times with me, screaming like,

da-da! You know, until I get to me, you know. I can't, and I'm struggling, you know. But honestly, it was, at first it was a little rough, but then,

you know, we got pretty like with everything we had. And we could do a lot more sparring at the house, but quick news was that I always reopened their gym. So, you know, and my wife actually, called down there and asked if we can get permitted to use it. And they actually, if it was still

closed, we were still out of usage, though. Wow. So you're still training as strong style? Yep. It's open and fully functioning. But if it wasn't, we were still okay to train. They gave us allowance. Oh, this is great. But before that, it's great. You just stay in your house. People come to you and you just keep getting better. I love that. It was, honestly, it was great. Because it was like, like, boys called, man. You guys, dudes come over and he's hang out. You know, BS for a little bit. just talk about stuff, we're getting a great workout, great workout in,

and then, you know, hang out a little bit more and just talk and just kind of BS, and then we go home, you know. You know, the year about 6 o'clock, about 8.30, it was great, you know. Yeah. I have a workout, but it was a good hour

just hanging out. It was awesome. My daughter loved, and she had all of her. She's like, ah, you know, my head coach is our godfather, Marcus, is a godfather, so she loved that. And it was just great.

You know, it's just, I love every second of it, honestly. Having wrestling mats in your basement and having people come over and wrestle or fight, kind of sounds like you have fight club in your house. Pretty much what it was. It was awesome. My daughter loved it, especially when I was getting punched in the face.

I don't know what is with her. When I would get hit or, you know, taken down or something, she found the greatest thing I wouldn't laugh. But he's trying to get in here. Sounds like you might be training her to be a future champion like you. Yes, but not in fighting. So she can't be a UFC fighter, at least not yet.

What is it okay? What are you okay with her becoming? Well, you know, listen, I'm not going to push you away from what she wants to do. Whatever she wants to do, all full support. But I'd ask you to play golf or tennis, you know, non-contact, just good workouts and just, you know, you know, be good. Nothing, no contact. I think we're a week and a half removed from your fight with D.C. But looking at you now, it doesn't, like it looks like you came out of that completely unscathed.

Yeah, I mean, I definitely have some mix and bruises. You know, my shoe is still pretty beat up, actually. I thought it would be better than it was. And it's getting there, but it's still swamom, which is weird. So I want to get that checked out. You know, my cuts out. One thing is I get bruised pretty easily, but I heal pretty fast, which that makes sense. I don't know if it does, but, yeah, it's weird.

So I can get touched up pretty quick, but then, you know, within a day or two, it's gone. So pretty lucky about that. But, yeah, I have to get my eyes checked. that was just precautionary. Just, you know, they told me I have to do that for the next, next, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, . So, um, yeah, I mean, but I feel pretty good, huh?

It just sucks get old. Yeah, it's funny. Joe Rogan in that post-fight interview goes, man, you're officially the greatest heavy weight of all time. How do you feel? And you go, eh, I want to go home. Yeah. I did.

I was just tired, you know, and it was a little bit different, I think, too, because there was no fans there. So I wasn't a jacked out. Trust me. I was so happy I won, but it's just, usually, you know, when I end up with lights, So, no, it's screaming. You're screaming too because you just, you know,

and I think we're just kind of like, hmm, this is weird. But I just wanted to go home, you know, I missed my daughter's the longest I've been away from her for a week. And it was a little too long for me. But usually she'll come. But, you know, of course, with everything going on, she couldn't. So how different was training for steep A, DC3 versus the first and the second fight?

No, it wasn't all different. You know, same training, same guys in camp that came. I had, it wasn't much more. We were just fine, too, a lot of stuff, worked on a lot of things I was doing wrong. And, you know, we said it a few things. Honestly, it wasn't too complicated. We just really stuck to the game plan and really worked on things that we needed to work out.

Where did this killer instinct come from in you? Because you really do have this desire that you want to be the absolute best at everything that you do. When did this get instilled in you? I don't know. I think when I was young, man, I always played some. sports and, you know, when I was a kid, you know, just like backyard. I love sports. I love being competitive. I think just, you know, my mom's competitive. My dad is too. And he's got him. You know, I just like winning and try to be the best everything I can.

And you say, you know, you like winning. But it's funny in the time that I've known you, you take your loss as hard. And I mean that in the most respectful and the best way. Like you take your loss as like, I need to avenge this. I need to get better. And I mean, you've pretty much avenged all your losses now. Yeah. Yeah, it's just a terrible feeling. You know, I just don't want to have that. I hate it.

I hate losing. It's just the worst thing. Which, but it is a good thing to happen. You know, what doesn't keep makes you stronger. So, you know, I try to avenge its losses and do whatever I can. You know, I sit my mind too. I got to figure it out. And so, like, the best thing I think that happened after that first, second loss,

I mean, the first time when I lost the title of the D.C., the first fight. I think having my daughter two weeks later, that was probably the best thing that happened to be because I didn't think about it. I mean, I thought about it, but I didn't, like, dwell on it. I didn't, like, go crazy over it.

Because, like, I didn't worry about her and whatever she needed because, you know, she was just born. So, you know, one day I'm going to tell her, thank you for being born because you say, I would have been a crazy, crazy man. What fight do you think it was when you look back that really puts you on the map,

really made UFC, Dana White, go. man, this guy could be a future champion. I don't know for them, but for me, I knew after my first, my second loss, when I lost the first time of JDS and Phoenix, I really looked at my coach and my wife, I could beat him in a while. You know, I just, I knew it, you know, and I was like, I got it. And my wife and wife's honestly my favorite fighter of mine, even though I lost, she's like, that's when you realized how good you could be.

Wow. Yeah. Because it seems like maybe Roy Nelson was like when you started getting some, you know, bigger, some better opponents. You set records during that fight with, you know, the amount of punches landed. Is that when things really started to elevate for you? Yeah, I mean, I think so, too. I think people started taking notice just because, you know, he's like fifth in the world at the time. And, you know, coming off like three first-round minute knockouts or something like that.

And when I came in, I put a clinic out of him. I think that, you know. Yeah, you basically made him a human punching bag. I was trying, yeah, but he's tough, though. You got to watch out. The guy drops bombs, so be careful. So, you know, you fought about a week and a half ago. Have you gone back to training already?

No, no, no, no. I'm just relaxing. I've been to a lot of media. You know, it usually happens after a fight. So I would do a lot of media. Just do a lot of stuff around, like, just odds and ends and stuff like that. Just kind of catch up on stuff that I couldn't do during camp. It was a little bit tough.

But I'll probably next week or so. started getting back in a swing thing. I don't know if I can kick yet, but I might try to box the guys, help them out with some stand-up. But we'll see, but I'm definitely going to do whatever I can. So they're still using my pool. But it's a great workout, though. I mean, everybody told me, like,

whatever you guys need the pool, you guys can take any time of work. Do you enjoy doing interviews? Enjoy doing press? I used to hate it with a passion. I remember. You couldn't stand it. But honestly, it just comes into the territory.

I just stopped carrying it and just say what I want. Well, and the other good, yeah, this is the other thing. You've really come into your own. Like, you've really been able to showcase your personality. Ever since basically you became the champion, right? Yeah, I just stopped carrying. I said, I just thought, in a lot of things. And, like, what I was winning to.

I just stopped carrying what everyone think. I just was going to say, let's not do the whole robot, I guess, right from my fight. Yeah, that's what we want to hear. But it's just like this stuff, like a podcast, talking to you like this. I'm just going to talk, man, it's going to be me. This is why you said this off camera. you're looking to start your own podcast. I am.

And I think that this is what's exciting. People will be able to see there's more to you than just what they see in the octagon. Listen, these glasses and amazing hair. It is amazing hair. Yes, I know. I'm thinking. Yeah, it looks great. I'm a little bit jealous.

Mine just looks okay compared to yours. Was this your wife's idea? The hair? No, actually, it was mine. True story. So we're watching one of those, God, I have no idea. show was, got my hair's all messed up and I touched it. No, it looks good. You're good.

Maybe a little bit more hair spray next time. Yeah, I'd barely use anything in it. So, but we were watching one of her shows and one of the girls in the show's boyfriend, I'd slick back hair. She'd be long her hair. I'm like, yeah, I was like, you know, I really want hair like that. I wish I didn't do it. So, uh, one of her best friend cuts my hair.

I was like, hey, yo, what's up? Can you do this? And she's like, well, let's trying. So you started growing it out and started doing it. I started trying to train a little more than. I came the next time she said, like, dude, your hair's like, for now, this is your haircut. And so here you go. And my wife said, you're never cutting it ever again.

Wow. Has this in any way affected your training, affected your fighting? No, actually, it was funny to say that. So it was longer before the fight. And when I was doing, like, pan work or grandpa or something like that, like, I would sweat. So it would, like, hit my eyes. You know, it was like perfectly matched. I was like, I put myself in the eye.

I mean, it's great. You wouldn't think. But it would suck. I'd, like, stick my hair back more. but I started to chew it up before the fight. Yeah, when you did the post-fight interview, you put on the headset like it was a headband so your hair could be slipped back.

Don't make some looking good, man. Well, you're always looking good now. I mean, come on, you're the champ. It's trying, man, I'm trying to try, I'm trying. So I imagine doing more interviews, doing more press has led to a lot more opportunities. I see you working with some great sponsorship deals. Has that where the door has kind of been opened up for you?

Yeah, no, definitely. I think, you know, I hear it begin. I think people want more. like, you know, sponsoring or, you know, working together with bigger companies. I think that helps up when you've done well. And, you know, when you start off, you don't get much, you know, yeah, you have worked your way up. And when you get to that point, it's great, though, because, you know, not so much about me anymore. It's about my family and my daughter.

And if we have more kids, you know, so I think it's just, yeah, you know, but I tell everyone with this, though, if I do work with someone, I do enjoy the product. It's not that I'm just doing it just to take the money. Like, I do it, you know, like, Radella, I love. I do drink medellas, you know. I'll get it. I use, I use a lot more, you know, Bill Colvin. I use, you know, I mean, I like Kilcliffe, you know, I'm drinking Kilcliffe. You know, I mean, it's not because I just, I do, I do enjoy them.

Yeah. When you have new fighters, younger fighters that come into the gym, obviously they look up to you now, you know, you're the best in the planet. What kind of advice do you give to younger fighters that are getting into this? Don't talk to me. Like, you're too little. I don't want to. I know. If you have any questions, you know, I'll guide it or need help with.

You know, if I see something they're doing it, like, hey, try this. You know, this is what I tell them every time when I show them something. I'm like, don't do it the way I do it. Do it the way you're comfortable to do it because it might be different and you might be doing it better the way you do it. And so whatever you help, I do that. And I just tell them, like, listen, man, no matter, it's training sucks, you know, but don't get frustrated. Just always have fun, you know. That's why I think I've gone so far just because I'm always having fun, no matter what.

I mean, if you don't have fun, you know, I mean, I'm not having fun of them out, though. But it's beyond just the fundamentals, though. Nick, you have this champion's mindset. You knew you were going to be the champion long before you were ever the champion. What's the thing that you teach people about your mindset? It's a good question. I really thought about it. And I just tell people, man, you know, you just got to want it more.

You just got to want it more because there's someone out there that's going to want more than you. So you got to do whatever you got to do. to be ready for that situation. And I think, I'm telling you always got to have fun. You've got to have fun. You've got to have a smile on your face because, like, there's days where I've gone in the gym and I've had a bad day. I'm pissed off of the world.

I don't want to go train, but I go and train. I really get out and I feel like a million dollars and just, you know, and it releases me. And so I think having fun and just having an escape, I think just and just, you know, don't build the hype. Don't, like, don't buy into the hype. Just, just who cares about anything, what everyone says, just you do you.

You know, if you go, if you go, you know, 100 and O, and you just take a guy down, hold him down for 100 fights. Guess what? You're 100 and O, and no, no, no one's going to beat you, who cares? You know, and so that's why I stopped caring when everyone thought. So I just tell you, you know, my son, just worry about yourself. So a big thank you to you for making this show possible by listening right now. And a big thank you to our sponsors.

Even though sports had a break, your business didn't. You had to keep moving. And that makes hiring more important. than ever. Indeed is here to help. Indeed.com is the number one job site in the world because Indeed gets you the best people fast. Unlike other sites, Indeed gives you full control and payment flexibility over your hiring. You only pay for what you need and you can pause your account at any time and there's no long-term contracts. Plus, Indeed provides powerful tools to make your search that much easier. Like sponsored jobs, which are shown to be three and a half times more like.

likely to result in a hire. With 73% of online job seekers visiting Indeed each month, Indeed is going to get you the important hire that you need, just like they've done for over three million businesses. Right now, Indeed is offering our listeners a free $75 credit to boost your job post, which means more quality candidates will see it fast. Try Indeed out with a free $75 credit at Indeed.com slash blue wire. This is their best offer available anywhere. So go right now to Indeed.com slash blue wire. Terms and conditions apply.

Offered valid through September 30th. And oh, man, the wait is finally over. Football is back, my friends. That you may not be at a game this year, but you can still be in on the action at BetOnline. Bat Online's going the extra mile to make sure that you can get in on every part. possible chance to win this season.

From game spreads and totals to team, player and coaching props, bet online gives you more options to wager than anywhere else. You can get in another season opening bonuses today and start wagering on wins, division, and championship futures all day, every day. Just had to bet online and take advantage of all of their great sign-up bonuses. Don't forget to use the promo code bluewire at betonline.ag. That's Blue Wire, all one word. Blue Wire.

Bet Online, your online sports book experts. Through all of this, you're still working as a firefighter, which I just love because obviously you don't need to do this anymore, but you want to do this. What is that in you that makes you want to continue doing that? Well, you know, I think just, you know, it's great being, you know, a champion in this sport. I've been training for so long,

but also I think to show up, you know, being a fireman, paramedic, I think he shows my mom and did something with my life. You know, I worked hard to get something. Even though I mean, I worked hard to become a champion, but also I just, you know, I did, you know, not every mother really dreams their son being a prize fighter. Like, you know, especially my mother, she's never seen a fight.

So I just want to show that, you know, hey, listen, you know, I worked hard. I did something on my own, you know, and I appreciate all your help, helping me out and guiding me to that, you know, to that where I wanted to be. I think, and also just being a fireman, it's like, I'm probably, you know, those guys, they, they haze me,

they, you know, they talk smack to me. And it's just a great escape, too, from training. Because, like, Thursdays, you know, I don't talk about it for anything. They don't talk about it. And they'll talk about it once in a while, but it's not like the whole conversation. And it's just like, hey, how's your week? I did we run on the boat and then with the beach, you know, it's just normal stuff. And it's great.

It keeps me grounded. Keeps you really grounded. So how often do you go on a call and people go, oh, my God. It's the champ. Actually, it's getting worse. Actually, so I finally say, They went back on Wednesday. Wow.

We were doing an inspection, so I'm driving, and I'm doing my own thing, and with the other guy in the squad, and I'm down the squad, also there's a guy with a big trailer, and boom, sidetracked us. I'm like, are you serious? I'm like, in my first day back, I get sideswiped. In a fire truck. No, no, no, in the squad. Oh, okay, okay.

So we get up to him, like, dude, you hit us. He said, oh, I need my bad. So my God, and he felt some best he pulls in. And I get out. He said, boom. Oh, it's a champ, bro. Let me get a picture. Have you had anyone like, I don't know, make a call that might not have actually been a serious call,

hoping that maybe you could show up to it? No, thank God, no. That has not happened. Yeah, this is not a suggestion, people. No, no, I hope it doesn't happen. We haven't. I have that people called me, called the station looking for me. You guys play dumb.

They're like, yeah, I don't know what it works next. You know, I look at the schedule. But it changes all the time. But it's been tough. A lot of people have been calling now, but it's been tough with COVID going on. We don't want to take any chances. Well, you've really been a bright spot in Cleveland. You know, like I said, before you won the championship,

it had been a drought of 50 years. And right afterwards, I think it's like you gave good mojo to the Cavs because right after you won the championship, then the Cavs won the championship. And Baker Mayfield for the Browns, like Cleveland Sports are, like, they're looking up. I'm still a Browns fan very much so myself. Yeah.

Yeah, that's probably. one of the best figures in my life when they went when the kids won a title. So I'd say I got married to my wife and then the next day the kids won the title. It was like crazy. It was that it was one. And we had everyone from like all over the world for our family from all over the way of Australia. It was crazy. And we always, we went to the Ford nightclub and we had a big table and we just watched the game with nuts. It was, man, it was a long night. So which is your Cleveland team? You know, of the three Cleveland teams, which one's your team? Oh, I mean, They're all three men. There's no picking and cheese. I love them all for me. I love them all.

But I also don't know if people realize how close you were to playing pro baseball. I mean, yeah, it was close, but a lot of people are close. There's a lot of guys my size. They can throw them all, hit the ball fire. I don't know. I don't know about that. Yeah. So I don't know. Whatever. You listen. I'm glad the way it worked out because I wouldn't be where I'm at today. Absolutely. And look where you are now. I mean, just look behind you. You're going to need a bigger man cave, by the way. Yeah, I've been told that.

The interesting thing is D.C. went into this fight, knowing that he was going to retire one way or the other. Whether one or whether he lost, he was going to retire. When you look ahead, whenever it happens to be that you end up retiring, do you want to go out on top? Well, of course, that's what you want. That's what you want. So, yeah, I mean, I don't want to be one of those guys that keeps fighting

and then, you know, just gets to all of this, just going there for a paycheck. You know, I never want to be that guy. I just want to, especially times right? Sorry, my daughter woke me up early this morning. I haven't any chance to get a nap at all. Yeah, you look great. Thanks, man. But, yeah, you know, I want to be those guys that just, you know, keeps fighting just for a paycheck.

You know, I want to make sure I know what's time and, you know, I'll talk to my family, make sure it's the right decision and just, you know, like I said, just on the way it's time. Yeah. Well, you've got two guys that are very excited, very looking forward to taking you on in Francis Nganu, John Jones. Is there someone that you'd rather fight? Well, I'm probably about 15 years. My daughter's boyfriend's when they come over. I think that that fight probably makes the most sense to happen next.

You know, I think you're right. I mean, listen, if I was a matchmaker, I wouldn't be fighting. he's done such a great since our last fight he's got a lot better he's had a bunch of first round knockouts he hasn't a tear I mean what are you supposed to do I mean you know John Jones of course one of the greatest while time but at the same time though it's you know it just depends with the UFC wants you know

like yeah you can John Jones fight it's okay because you know dude he's moving up one of the base all the time it's a super fight he's looking down I'm like listen dude I haven't put my time and effort in for how long you're going to sit there and just jump over me like that it's not fair to me So it's just, it's a double-in-sort of the situation. I don't know. I just don't understand, and once again, we're not matchmakers here, but I don't understand how John Jones can come in and leapfrog everybody

and get a title shot. Yeah, I know. I don't know. Like I said, but you got to look at his resume, too. It's like DCs, you know. That's why I gave you to doing the superfight. So I think maybe you say a light heavy way. It might have been different because it's been a superfight.

But now since you've been able to do it. may you say moving up to every way, it might be different. So you might help him get a one-month-fight. But for you, you haven't fought anyone but D.C. in years. Kind of right, weird. It's like a relationship that's finally over. What if he comes back? I mean, but him and John Jones fight, man.

You know, it's beef and squash. Hey, I like that. That's real good. I think it would be a different fight, though, just kind of a way, too. Speaking of the D.C. fight, you shared a moment. right after you were announced as the winner with Dana. What did you guys say in the Octagon there? To me, man, I'm going to say, listen, I appreciate everything.

I know we're ups and downs, but I just want to say, I appreciate everything you do. Oh, by the way, the boat. Have you talked to D.C. yet? He seemed very upset about the eye poke. No, I mean, that was honestly. The I poke, I was not, like, that was incidental. I was like, I didn't.

I didn't. I looked up in between rounds. I looked down. I felt real bad. But, I mean, this is part of the game. He's done it, too. I mean, just it is what it is. He did it earlier in that fight.

Yeah, I really didn't. That was not my plan. That's now I fight. I'm a clean fighter. I'm trying to, like, take advantage of him. You know, I had no idea. How is your eye doing after the previous fight? You know, you had some issues with it.

Yeah. Yeah, I don't know if, you know, from eyebooks from now, but, I mean, definitely didn't help with, with the outposted torn retina. So they had to get healed and a couple of procedures. It was going to be procedure done to fix that. And so it was a, it was a worrying

just because I never had spots mine and I don't want to lose my vision or have trouble with my vision when I get older. So it was a little, you know, it was tough. You know, I had to take a little time off. And apparently people don't understand how many tort aren't is that serious. Whatever. Yeah, you kind of need your eyeballs to fight.

Yeah, it's true. Do you, so you're wearing glasses now. Do you fight wearing contacts? No, actually, I need the glasses in general. Even torn right or not, I knew them. I was just being stubborn because I didn't want to get them. Best decision ever made. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, and even, like, I'm in, but I don't wear contacts, no, just because we have one guy once in a while training contacts, and I swear, got, every time we sparring, it always pops out. I'm like, I don't want that to happen to move a fight, especially getting caught my eye and, you know, I'm not blind, and by any means, I can still read me without glasses.

Just I'm not as focused. Have you looked into LASIC? A lot of athletes have done this. It's completely changed the game for them. Yeah, I have. I just didn't do anything just because, you know, with the fighter and training and just I want to, you know, I don't mind, honestly, I don't mind the glasses.

I like them. It's more comfortable for me. That makes people think you're smart too, right? I'm just toking. That's why 100% I'm doing it. You are smart. You wouldn't be in the position that you're in right now if you weren't smart. Well, that's all my work, not me.

I've been meaning to ask you this since the very first interview. What does the tattoo on your back mean? Well, straight away down. Strong South Fight Family. Oh, that's it. That is your fight family. Yeah. It's like a cult, you know.

Is there anybody in your gym that could beat you? Yeah, yeah. There's 10 of guys. Oh, yeah, Alexa. He's a 2,500. Kids are Savage. He's at one funny. He's fighting here soon, I think.

he's an absolute he's gonna be destroyed that kid's gonna be he's in the old places and you know every way in a train with he also fights in the UFC is Jeff Hughes

and he yeah and he's had some tough breaks you know and he he should be what his record shows in the UFC is not what you know what I mean

like he's way better than he is and I know it firsthand because he punches me in the face when he's a really really really talented funny and then he just had some bad breaks and, you know, just, yeah, he's really going to showcase his next fight. So I'm excited for these two, and they're going to be becoming young.

What about your trainer, Marcus? I know he's a total badass. Yeah, he scares me, you know? He's a one man that terrifies me because, I mean, he's my best friend, but at the same time, I don't want to make him mad. Yeah, he's dead. I love the guy more than anything. He, you know, spent a lot of time and effort than me, not just me with everyone.

And he, yeah, he's a very, uh, just great man. Yeah, I'm very lucky I met him. I am with friends in general. He's a great person. It's just, I mean, you're a great person, by the way. Thank you. It's just been amazing to watch your growth, watch your path, you know, as you went from aspiring champion to now greatest heavyweight champion of all time.

What doors do you think have been opened for you since becoming UFC heavyweight champion? Well, I think, I mean a lot of things. You know, just, you know, business opportunities, I think you look at, you know, it's really, really, those scare me, by the way. But just in general, like, well, you know, like acting, maybe, you know, people laugh at me because I can't talk this day, but I've done a couple movies already. I've done the commercials.

So I'm actually, you know, opportunity to feel things coming up. So I think just, you know, especially with the sport, growing as fast as it is, I think people are starting to recognize and, you know, really pretty sweet. Is there somebody that you've met? since becoming the champ that you're like, I can't believe I'm hanging out with this person right now. You know, there's a lot of guys.

I mean, like, I mean, I guess I can't think it's just like, I don't know. Have you hung out with LeBron yet? I don't know. I did, but I'll get after I won the title. Oh? Yeah, so I got tickets to the game, game one, and they're right next to me in those. And, you know, Birdmane was there at the time we was paying us for the time.

Oh, yeah. Who's all tried to come out here. And I was like, yeah. I was like, yeah, I'll be right there. I'll try to play it off, like, no big deal. I was like, champ on the bits to go over there. I walk in, but what's up? And it's funny, because I'm like 6'5, dude,

and these dudes, like, towered over me. I felt tiny. And then Kevin Love, like, beat me up the whole time. You know, I'm like, Jesus, I'm going to beat him. Fragile, you know. But they're great guys, you know, him and LeBron, Chaining, I mean, they're all going to, you know, J.R. Smith, awesome guy.

I mean, they were great guys. They were very cool guys. it was also really cool to see you throw the first pitch for the Indians because like, you know, you got the baseball background, then you go out there and it's like, yeah, I'll show you guys how this is done. Yeah, it was great, you know. It's just cool to do something like that. It's fun, you know.

It's, you don't think of it. Sorry. Now, this interview is just boring you. Like, right? No, she's a savage. It just, you know, it just, you know, you're kicking out. You never think of a minute you do something like that.

And you got to take a EP with them. I got to throw off the first pitch. I got to walk in the cast card during the playoff game. It's just so much going on. You never think in a million years you get to do a cool thing you do. And I'm just grateful and blessed to do it. As Cleveland born, Cleveland raised, who do you think is the greatest Cleveland athlete of all time?

You're looking like, man, it's a tough one. You look like Jim Brown. That dude was that savage. I mean, things he did and he left early, you know. I imagine that guy would stay around. and he would have records for days. And he's also a great man, him and his wife, for amazing people. Oh, yeah, man.

It's something about Jim Brown keeps sticking to me. I'm not, there's probably more I'm not even thinking about, but he just, I just watched him like when you play those tapes back and they show him running the ball. He's just an absolute savage. I don't think you can go wrong with saying Jim Brown as one of the greatest of all time. Yeah, he's just, I mean, of the problem, of course,

but they did Jim Brown would just love me on. I think he was just like a man among boys. you're now part of this conversation too you absolutely are yeah I mean it's great to be just in the conversation but I mean those Jimenez just didn't browse I just I keep thinking they watch the videos on I'm like crazy clips just he's nuts has your mom come around and like will your mom watch your fights now

no she still has not but I'll show her clips here and there you know when I remember I was and I finally made sure but I thought yo also over her shoulder. I'm like, that's when I get put on a bunch. Oh, you're such an idiot. What are you doing? She was okay because she knew I won't,

so she wasn't very worried about it. And then, you know, I wanted to fight. She said, is you okay, though? Is he okay? Like, that's the first thing she said. It was like, is he okay.

I'm like, well, I'm fine and yes, he's fine too. But yeah, she, yeah, she still won't watch it though. She supports it, but won't watch it. Will she come, like, if you're fighting in Vegas, will she come to Vegas with, she won't even come to the city? No, just,

we have with superstition. She came one time and I lost. Oh, which fight was that? You can't when I fought Struth. Yeah, so she's banned from your fights now. Oh, no, I mean, I'm, I'm talking out with mom. You can go if you want. And she's like, no, I'm good.

She's like, so she has the same routine and she says every time. I guess Struve is the one loss you haven't avenged. Do you feel like you need to fight him again? No, I'm listening. I'm good. Yeah, I'd say you're good. Yeah.

I don't know if there's, I don't know if there's anyone that can beat you. No, there's always someone and it doesn't matter who it is. It's just, you know, that day of the week. And just if it's your day, it's your day. And sometimes, you know, locks on your side as it depends not. Was it just me or did you look pretty lean going into this last fight? No, I did. I definitely, I wait a little bit more, but I definitely, I think I ate, I usually eat good, but I ate really, really clean.

I took a lot better supplements. You know, it really took, you know, really a lot of multivitamin stuff and omega-3s and stuff like that. You know, I think the poor workouts helped also. I think a lot of poor guys with resistance training helped a lot. So what weight is the perfect weight for you to go into a fight, do you think? I think between 230 and 233, I love it. Like, you know, I always weigh a little heavier. I feel like an extra way I didn't need, but I think me, he could be a little lighter.

I feel stronger. I feel faster and I feel just better conditioned. If it could happen, would you want to fight with Brock, Lesner. I'll play anyone. There's no question. I don't care. I would take that fight in a heartbeat.

Because that fight, I mean, I think that would make a lot of sense to see that fight. Yeah. I mean, it would be early night for me. Oh! One round? Yeah, I'll figure it out. But, yeah, I love that fight.

I think that this is, I mean, he hasn't fought in a long time. He claims to be retired, but this is a fight I think could happen. Yeah, you never know. We'll see. This is the thing. If you, you've basically cleaned out the division. You've cleared out the division, especially with whatever your next fight ends up being. What do you do?

Just keep fighting the same people you beat? No, I mean, there's always something that comes up. You know, there's always guys that goes out of tear. I mean, it happens, you know, you see it all the time. So, you know, listen, I say I'm about the matchmaker. It's what the UFC wants. And so when they get that call, we're ready. I love it.

Thank you so much for your time today, man. And you any time, buddy. Thanks for having me. Great seat again, dude. Oh, it's great to see you too. I hope that you can get some rest today. I know your daughter's been keeping you up, but I hope you can get some rest.

Oh, yeah, no, she doesn't keep me out. She sleeps for the night, but probably this week of like 6.45. I'm like, God, it's give me one hour, one extra hour. It's all I ask, you know. But she can do she wants. She's got a right brown of finger.

Well, thank you so much, brother. No, thank you, man. I don't know, great. Isn't it great that the baddest man on the planet is simultaneously the nicest man on the planet? How awesome is he? You think that match between steep, and Brock Lesnar will actually happen?

Hmm. I love how he's like, yeah, it'd be a short night for me. I gotta say, I don't disagree with him. It'll be interesting if we see this thing happen. Like we talked about there,

Francis and Gano seems to be the next in line, and nothing against Francis. He is a tremendous competitor, but I would have to think the same thing happens in this fight that happened the last time that Francis and Stipe fought, which was Stipe winning the match.

By the way, how amazing is, is it. Think about this. We're talking to someone here who is literally the best in the world at their profession. Literally, not just something that someone says, not just a catchphrase that you put on a shirt. He is literally the best in the world in his profession. Number one. So I'm blown away by that. And we were able to like kind of tap into a little bit of his mindset there. So I hope that this inspires you to strive for something better, to strive for something more in your life. much as it inspires me to do that. And with that said, I'll leave you with this quote from

Vince Lombardi. I love this quote. Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence. Be great. Be grateful. Go kick some ass this week. We'll see you on the next episode with Thunder Rosa, followed by David Arquette. Jim Rome takes on sports. Why? Because I have a job to do with rapid fire takes. So I don't want to hear from you lava pigs on this notion today. No idea what you're talking about. You're complaining more than you like to breathe air. It's like you get up in the morning only to complain and cry and moan on social media about things that you don't even understand. He's the spitfire of sports smack. Take advantage of it. Get up in here. The Jim Rome Show podcast.

What should be? Follow and listen on your favorite platform. You've been warned.