Stipe Miocic has been the UFC's heavyweight champion for more than two years, calmly dominating the most tumultuous division in mixed martial arts during a record three title defenses.
Yet deep in his core, the longest-reigning heavyweight champ in UFC history has embraced the fact he'll always feel like a firefighter from Cleveland whose life took an amazing detour.
"When I walk into the octagon and they lock the door, I'm like, 'Well, I can't leave now,'" Miocic said. "It's fight or flight, and you've got to fight. It's a little surreal, though. You look across the cage, and you're like, 'Huh.