Stipe Miocic

I like being the underdog. I like turning around and shutting people up when they tell me I can't.

I'm always the underdog, but I don't mind that.

When I become champion, you know, I'll never stop being a firefighter.

I never thought I would get so much support, and it means the world to me. Nothing could ever get better than that.

Fabio Maldonado jumped up to heavyweight for our fight, and while he wasn't ranked, he is a super-tough dude and had never been knocked out before.

I'm just happy the city has something to be proud of. The Cavs, the Indians, the Monsters. It just shows that we are the land of champions.

I like helping people.

I'm going to do what I want to do. If he wants to go to the ground, that's fine. I'm a wrestler.

I told you I'm the best in the world.

I'm from Cleveland. I love this place. I'm never going to leave.

People have always worn Cleveland shirts and supported Cleveland no matter how bad the teams were or how close we were. It didn't matter. That's really all about the city. We're just hardworking people that love the city and don't care how the teams do.

I love what I do, both aspects - fighting and being a firefighter and paramedic.