Stipe Miocic on Terry Francona: ‘I Love The Guy’

Stipe Miocic on his appreciation for Terry Francona; the two biggest revelations from Bellator 300; and a look at a great night for Bobby Green

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Throughout his managerial career in Major League Baseball, Terry Francona experienced the very highest of highs–and the lowest of lows.

Francona managed the Boston Red Sox to their first championship in 86 years when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series. That famously occurred after the Sox defeated their rivals, the New York Yankees, after falling behind, three games to none, in the American League Championship Series, which is effectively a death sentence in pro sports.

Courtesy MLB

Led by Francona, the Sox also won another World Series title in 2007. Good times never seemed so good, and that represented the peak of his run in Boston–which plummeted by September of 2011 when the Sox went 7-20 during the final month of the season as chaos and controversy engulfed the club. Francona was rejuvenated as manager of the Cleveland Indians, where he guided his club to a commanding series lead, three games to one, in the 2016 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. But the Cubs won the next three, including a dramatic seventh game, winning the title in extra innings. His career was full of those ups and downs, including a difficult stretch with four abysmal years managing the Philadelphia Phillies prior to his success in Boston.

The positive always outweighed the bad with Francona. A tremendous ambassador for the game, he retired last week. Francona finishes his career with just six wins shy of 2,000 victories, and he is a lock for a residence in Cooperstown at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic has developed a friendship with Francona, who has managed in Cleveland since 2012.

“Tito is an awesome individual,” said Miocic, who is from Cleveland and proudly champions Ohio sports teams. “He’s such a sweetheart.”

Miocic has experienced a range of emotions in the fight world. Winning the heavyweight title twice also meant he lost it on two different occasions. His most recent bout from March of 2021 was a devastating loss against Francis Ngannou, and Miocic is still looking to regain his title.

“He’s an inspiration to me,” said Miocic. “Every time I see him, he gives me a big hug and says, ‘Hey, big guy.’ I love the guy.”

Despite some promise earlier in the summer, Cleveland finished 76-86. The Minnesota Twins won the American League Central division, preventing one last playoff run for Francona. The franchise will have a new manager next year as Francona attempts to settle into retirement.

“I know he’s doing what is best for him, but I never want him to leave Cleveland,” said Miocic. “He’s such a great manager. I’m sad about the whole thing.”

Courtesy Zuffa LLC

Miocic is preparing for the most significant fight of his career, which takes place next month at UFC 295 against the great Jon Jones. In spite of all Miocic’s success, he is expected to become the next victim in Jones’ pursuit of becoming the greatest of all-time.

The bout takes place at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York, roughly 10 miles away from Yankee Stadium–a place where Francona has been able to conjure his magic. If Francona begins to grow restless during the ongoing MLB postseason, Miocic has extended an invitation for him to stay active.

“Put him in my corner at MSG,” said Miocic. “He’d give me an edge, for sure.”

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Nurmagomedov, Cyborg star at Bellator 300

Two revelations came out of Bellator 300.

Courtesy Bellator

The first is that Usman Nurmagomedov proved he is a top-three lightweight. Potentially, he even resides in the top two in all of MMA, behind only UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Right now, incredibly, there is no competition for him as Bellator lightweight champ.

Nurmagomedov dominated Brent Primus in the Bellator 300 main event. Throughout five rounds, he never found himself in any sort of danger. The victory also advanced Nurmagomedov into the finals of the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix, where he will face either Patricky “Pitbull” Freire–who he pounced in November to win the title–or Alexandr Shabliy, who has won eight in a row (including a TKO against Primus in June of 2022). Shabily would be an interesting test for Nurmagomedov, who is only 25.

Secondly, Cris Cyborg wiped out Cat Zingano in their long-awaited bout, needing only four minutes to win by TKO in her featherweight title defense. Age has yet to slow Cyborg, 38, who has won seven in a row since her 2018 knockout loss to Amanda Nunes.

Cyborg needs a bout against Kayla Harrison, and Harrison needs the fight against Cyborg. Hopefully that happens in 2024.

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Green with highlight reel performance at the Apex

Bobby Green finished Grant Dawson in the opening round of their headline bout at the Apex on Saturday, knocking him out in only 33 seconds.

Courtesy Zuffa LLC

It was an impressive showing–prior to the bout, Dawson had not lost since April of 2016, winning 11 times along with one draw. Yet the perfect jab from Green changed his record in an instant.

The victory should elevate Green into the UFC lightweight rankings. The 37-year-old has now collected two wins in a row.