Stipe Miocic stood out on the diamond in college. | Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com
1. Stipe Miocic
Miocic almost became a professional baseball player following a successful run as a third baseman and catcher for Cleveland State University and Trevecca Nazarene University, where he drew the attention of MLB scouts.
With seven UFC fights now under his belt, Miocic’s choice to pursue MMA gloves over spikes has been a fruitful one. He owns wins over Joey Beltran, Shane del Rosario, Roy Nelson, Gabriel Gonzaga and Fabio Maldonado, positioning himself to make a run at Cain Velasquez’s UFC heavyweight title. The win over Maldonado proved bittersweet, however, as the undersized Brazilian boxer filled in on short notice for the injured Junior dos Santos at “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3” Finale.
While a matchup with former Dream and Strikeforce champion Alistair Overeem was rumored for the UFC’s trip to Connecticut on Sept. 5, Miocic’s recovery from herniated discs has delayed those plans.