Stipe Miocic: I Belong in the Heavyweight Top 10

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                                Stipe Miocic: I Belong in the Heavyweight Top 10

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                    <p>Heavyweights Stipe Miocic and Roy Nelson were a late pairing at UFC 161, with Nelson being a big favorite (-250). However, Miocic took a clear decision, landing an unprecedented number of strikes on the durable Nelson.</p>

Miocic was coming off a loss to Stefan Struve in September of 2012, but that was his first loss as an amateur or a pro, and his confidence is entirely unshaken, as expressed in an interview with FOX sports after the fight.

“I caught him a few times. I think I wobbled him in the beginning, and I knew I belonged here,” said Miocic. “He caught me with one good punch, but I felt fine. I knew exactly what was going on, so i just spun around and was good to go.”

“I was being smart. I knew he was going to go for the kill. I was up two rounds to none, so I knew he was going to come take my head off."

“I had a fall last time, but it’s okay. It was a little trip. No big deal. I think everyone [changes their mindset], after their first loss, or any kind of loss - 'don’t [try to] live up to the hype... just fight.'"

“I know how good I am. I know I can do in this division. I believe I belong in the top 10, and I showed it tonight.”

The official UFC fighter rankings for heavyweight do not reflect Saturday's fights:
Champion: Cain Velasquez
1. Junior dos Santos
2. Daniel Cormier
3. Fabricio Werdum
4. Antonio Silva
5. Roy Nelson
6. Alistair Overeem
7. Frank Mir
8. Travis Browne
9. Mark Hunt
10. Minotauro Nogueira

Where do you see Miocic in the rankings now?

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Well there's room at the tenth spot, with all due respect. Phone Post 3.0

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Miocic at 10 with, and I hate to say it, Nog out of the top 10. Nelson to 8.

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GregBell  - He was top 10 the whole time skillset talent wise....one bad fight vs a giant didn't change that ALOT of hype died around stipe when he lost that fight good to see him back to form


Very true.  I've been high on Stipe since his first fight in the UFC.  He is a real heavyweight athlete and was shocked when he didnt beat Struve.  He's a tank that will run most guys over.

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How about Miocic vs Bigfoot next? Phone Post 3.0

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scaredy cat - Miocic at 10 with, and I hate to say it, Nog out of the top 10. Nelson to 8.

bf silva out also Phone Post

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Carl Sonnen - Put him up against Nog, or Browne, or even Reem next. Miocic looks good and I think with another top ten win, he is right.
Loser of Browne/Reem would be good Phone Post 3.0

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Stipe v. Bigfoot would be an interesting fight

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No way Big Nog is top ten these days. Stipe can take his place. Phone Post 3.0

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KingofBJJ -


Nope not yet, but you are getting there.

Heavyweight is getting thin...there can't be ten other guys ahead of him. Right? Phone Post 3.0

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Heavyweight is really thin. He's top 10 imo but it doesn't take a ton to get there. With how thin it is I think there's a solid chance he fights Werdum next, as he needs an opponent if JDS is fighting Cain again. Phone Post

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.

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1. Junior dos Santos
2. Daniel Cormier
3. Fabricio Werdum
4. Antonio Silva
5. Roy Nelson
6. Alistair Overeem
7. Frank Mir
8. Travis Browne
9. Mark Hunt
10. Minotauro Nogueira

The HW division is in a weird spot right now.  Werdum JDS Browne and DC are the only ones in the top 10 who won their last fight. Leaving Nelson, Reem, Bigfoot,  Mir, Hunt, and Nog as victims of pretty one sided beat downs in their last fights. A guy like Miocic who is 9-1 coming off a win over a top 5 guy (highly overrated imo) in Nelson has a pretty good case to make. His lone loss is to a respectable Stefan Struve who was top 10 before Hunt broke his jaw.

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Jaybrone -


1. Junior dos Santos

2. Daniel Cormier

3. Fabricio Werdum

4. Antonio Silva

5. Roy Nelson

6. Alistair Overeem

7. Frank Mir

8. Travis Browne

9. Mark Hunt

10. Minotauro Nogueira



The HW division is in a weird spot right now.  Werdum JDS Browne and DC are the only ones in the top 10 who won their last fight. Leaving Nelson, Reem, Bigfoot,  Mir, Hunt, and Nog as victims of pretty one sided beat downs in their last fights. A guy like Miocic who is 9-1 coming off a win over a top 5 guy (highly overrated imo) in Nelson has a pretty good case to make. His lone loss is to a respectable Stefan Struve who was top 10 before Hunt broke his jaw.

Good post. Miocic is also 10-1 now. He's never going to be the same fighter after the struve loss. Your never going to here excuses from him but he definitely wasn't himself going in that fight. We got to see the real Stipe Saturday night Phone Post 3.0

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I want Stipe vs Werdum to decide the real number one contender while we wait for the JDS/Cain rubber match. I would like to see DC/Stipe as well. I would pick Miocic in that fight but if Cormier won it would spoil a contender right before DC drops to light heavyweight.

If they resign Roy they should do Big Country vs Big Foot. Phone Post 3.0

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Stea1th - That ranking is far from accurate Phone Post 3.0
This Phone Post 3.0

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minotauro11 - I want Stipe vs Werdum to decide the real number one contender while we wait for the JDS/Cain rubber match. I would like to see DC/Stipe as well. I would pick Miocic in that fight but if Cormier won it would spoil a contender right before DC drops to light heavyweight.

If they resign Roy they should do Big Country vs Big Foot. Phone Post 3.0
UFC 170: Big Bellies, Big Foots, Big Stakes. Phone Post 3.0