Stipe Miocic seeks staying power as UFC heavyweight champion

Stipe Miocic wants to alter the frequent turnover of the UFC’s heavyweight belt, and embracing the home-venue advantage his predecessor squandered represents an ideal start.

Miocic, 34, makes his first title defense Saturday night in the UFC 203 pay-per-view card from his native Ohio, facing veteran Alistair Overeem at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

No UFC heavyweight champion has ever made more than two consecutive successful title defenses, but Miocic, riding a three-fight knockout streak that included his first-round finish of Brazil’s Fabricio Werdum in May, aims for an extended run.

“It’s amazing that I’m here at home, I don’t have to leave,” Miocic said. “I can sit here and not have to get on an airplane several hours,” like his 12-hour journey to Werdum’s homeland.

He said he feels no trepidation fighting in front of fans from a state who have warmly embraced the native son whose parents are Croatian. In actuality, Miocic’s heavyweight title victory officially ended Cleveland’s noted championship drought that was later followed by LeBron James leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA title in June.

“I want to keep the belt for a long time,” Miocic (15-2) said. “I’m here to keep it. I trained too hard to give it up. It’s what I signed up for.”

The 36-year-old Overeem (41-14), a skilled kick-boxer best known for his 2011 triumph over Brock Lesnar, has beaten former heavyweight champions Junior dos Santos and Andrei Arlovski during his winning streak.

The UFC 203 card also includes Werdum versus Travis Browne and former WWE performer CM Punk’s UFC debut against Mickey Gall.

For Miocic, Overeem represents another opportunity to separate himself from tradition. If he can conquer the Cleveland jinx, he feels he can make a long run as champion. Former champion Cain Velasquez is next in line.

“It’s the heavyweight division, man, there’s a bunch of big guys, so anything can happen when they hit you,” Miocic said. “But I have plans, and feel I get better every fight. I match up well [against Overeem]. Everything he brings to the table, I can counter. You never know [if you can take a punch] until you get hit. But I’ve sparred, trained and feel I have a strong jaw.”

Will he be overeager to launch the big punches that made him a champion?

“I’m not going to throw haymakers the whole fight, I’ll gas out,” Miocic said. “So I’m going to pick my shots, keep moving forward, keep pushing the pace and catch him.”

Remaining calm in the chaos helps, and Miocic is an expert in that field thanks to his part-time work as a fireman-paramedic that requires shifts one or four days a week depending on his fight schedule.

“You have to be cool and collected as a martial artist, too, so I’m ready for whatever happens in the arena,” he said. “I’m trained.”