Stipe Miocic
Active 2011–present · rated in 7 editions · peak overall 92.0
Scouting report
Combining Golden Gloves boxing precision with collegiate wrestling, Stipe Miocic set the all-time record for consecutive heavyweight title defenses. Hailing from Euclid, Ohio, while serving as a firefighter and paramedic, Miocic won a championship trilogy against Daniel Cormier and a two-fight title series with Francis Ngannou, his profile quantified by a 93 Boxing rating, 91 Wrestling, and 92 Fight IQ, reaching a 92 Overall score.
Peak ratings
By edition
Miocic climbed the heavyweight ranks between 2011 and 2013, defeating Joey Beltran, Shane del Rosario via elbows, and former title challenger Roy Nelson at UFC 161 in Winnipeg, with his only early setback being a stoppage against Stefan Struve in Nottingham. His Golden Gloves boxing fundamentals, NCAA Division I wrestling, and pace are reflected in an 88 Cardio and 86 Boxing.
In 2014 and 2015, Miocic stopped Fabio Maldonado in round one in Sao Paulo, lost a five-round decision to Junior dos Santos in Phoenix, and stopped Mark Hunt in round five in Adelaide, before stopping Andrei Arlovski in round one at UFC 195. His boxing, wrestling top pressure, and cardio anchor his 92 Cardio and 90 Boxing.
Miocic captured the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 198 in Curitiba in May 2016, knocking out Fabricio Werdum in round one, before defending his belt with first-round knockouts of Alistair Overeem in Cleveland and Junior dos Santos in Dallas. His counter-punching and championship pace justify his 93 Boxing and 93 Cardio.
Miocic broke the UFC record for most consecutive heavyweight title defenses at UFC 220 in Boston in January 2018, dismantling Francis Ngannou over five rounds with wrestling and pace, before losing the belt to Daniel Cormier by first-round knockout at UFC 226 and regaining it with a fourth-round TKO at UFC 241 in Anaheim. His high-volume boxing and wrestling control anchor his 94 Boxing and 94 Cardio.
In August 2020 at UFC 252 in Las Vegas, Miocic settled his trilogy against Daniel Cormier with a unanimous decision victory, before dropping the title to Francis Ngannou in their UFC 260 rematch in 2021. His MMA skill set, boxing combinations, and fight IQ are reflected in a 93 Boxing and 92 Cardio.
Returning from an extended hiatus to prepare for a heavyweight super-fight against Jon Jones at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden, where he lost by third-round TKO, Miocic preserved his veteran boxing fundamentals, sprawl-and-brawl wrestling pedigree, and championship composure, reflected in a 90 Boxing and 92 Fight IQ rating.
Stipe Miocic: the heavyweight who did not run out of gas
Stipe Miocic is the most accomplished heavyweight in UFC history, a Golden Gloves boxer with a Division I wrestling background. He knocked people out and outlasted them, and both were useful in a division where tired usually means beaten. A very balanced pick.
Miocic attribute by attribute
Boxing. Fast, crisp and heavy. The one-two is clean, and the stepping counter right that flattened Fabricio Werdum while he was moving backward is his best moment.
Kickboxing. Functional leg kicks only. Hands and footwork manage the distance, not Muay Thai.
Wrestling. Elite for a heavyweight. He took Francis Ngannou down repeatedly in their first fight and wore him out with top pressure.
BJJ. Basic, mostly defensive. His wrestling base prevents sweeps, and he looks for ground and pound over chokes.
Strength. Strong in a practical way. He dragged 260-pound men down and held them there.
Durability. Tested in wars with Francis Ngannou and Daniel Cormier. He recovered and won later rounds.
Cardio. The best in heavyweight history. Wrestling and boxing at a hard pace for 25 minutes melted larger opponents.
Fight IQ. Smart adjustments. After losing to Cormier he attacked the body in the rematch and changed the fight, then won the trilogy.
The trait to take: Cardio
Heavyweights tire. Stipe's cardio keeps your composite pushing for 25 minutes while the other side collapses.
The trait to skip: Offensive BJJ
He is a ground-and-pound fighter rather than a submission specialist. Do not count on this slot for chokes or joint locks from the bottom.
Keep exploring
Closest heavyweight profiles to Stipe Miocic, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Cain Velasquezbest wrestling 96 · weakest kickboxing 80
- Junior dos Santosbest boxing 95 · weakest bjj 76
- Daniel Cormierbest wrestling 98 · weakest kickboxing 78
- Tom Aspinallbest boxing 95 · weakest durability 90
- Heavyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Stipe Miocic's strongest attribute, Boxing.
Draft Stipe Miocic into your build
Stipe Miocic enters the pool on any spin landing on heavyweight between 2010 and present. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Stipe Miocic is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Stipe Miocic's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.