Stipe Miocic is arguably the greatest heavyweight champion in UFC history. Miocic is also a big NFL fan.
Born and raised in Euclid, Ohio, Miocic is a longtime Cleveland Browns fan. Naturally, that means Miocic is inclined to dislike Cleveland’s in-state rival, the Cincinnati Bengals.
While Miocic isn’t a fan of the Bengals, he is a big fan of second-year quarterback Joe Burrow.
Burrow, the former LSU star and 2019 Heisman Trophy winner, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. In November, a knee injury cut Burrow’s season short after just 10 games, but not before looking like one of the NFL’s top young quarterbacks.
[lawrence-related id=16701]
Two of Burrow’s best games in 2020 were against Miocic’s Cleveland Browns. While Cincinnati lost both games by one possession, Burrow was phenomenal. He completed almost 67% of his passes for 722 yards with six touchdowns and one interception in those games.
Earlier this week, as Miocic was attending the UFC 260 presser in preparation for Saturday’s title defense against Francis Ngannou, the heavyweight champion was told a certain NFL quarterback from Ohio could be in attendance, but it would not be Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Miocic quickly showed his respect for Burrow.
“I love that dude,” Miocic said. “I think he’s a hell of a quarterback. After he walked out of the national title with a cigar out of his mouth, that’s baller. That’s pretty sweet.”
Worlds collide. Stipe on Joe Burrow: pic.twitter.com/f32k3JUuPr
— Jake Martin (@JakeMartinOC) March 26, 2021
Earlier this month, Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor sounded optimistic regarding Burrow’s rehabilitation, per Tyler Dragon the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“I know that he’s on pace to do all the things that we were hoping he’d do,” Taylor said.
UFC 260 is set to take place at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday in the Las Vegas metropolitan area.
[listicle id=15849]