Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is having a ball in his new role at NFL side Cleveland Browns.
Miocic was named as the Browns’ ‘Dawg Pound Captain’ one month after retiring from MMA following a loss to Jon Jones at UFC 309 in November 2024.
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Miocic finished his UFC career against Jones in New York last NovemberCredit: Getty
A ‘Dawg Pound Captain’ is tasked with getting the crowd hyped up before a Cleveland Browns game, sitting in a particular section of their stadium to make lots of noise before kick off.
Miocic adopted the role before the Browns’ NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs in December, and it seems he has stuck around in a new job as part of the squad.
“Always needed this collab, just didn’t know this was how it would go,” wrote the official account of the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday via X.
Miocic had been recorded interacting with the team’s biggest stars in a brand new role as the club’s photographer.
“I’m a content creator now, that’s what I do,” Miocic told defensive end Myles Garrett.
Another member of staff added: “My protege today,” making it seem like Miocic was shadowing him as the team’s photographer for the day.
Miocic, 42, is one of the most accomplished heavyweights in MMA history.
He holds the record for the most victories in UFC heavyweight title fights, having originally won the belt by knocking out Fabricio Werdum in 2016 and defending it three times.
The Ohio native lost the heavyweight strap to Daniel Cormier at UFC 226 in 2018, but reclaimed it in a rematch with his fellow heavyweight great and defended it in a trilogy bout.
Miocic then lost the title once again to Francis Ngannou in 2021, when he was brutally knocked out, before he took three years off and retired following his defeat to Jones.
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Miocic was tasked with taking photos of the Browns having worked as the team’s Dawg Pound CaptainCredit: @Browns – X
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The 42-year-old retired after fighting Jones at UFC 309Credit: GettyWho has Stipe Miocic lost to in the UFC?
Miocic only lost five times during his 13-year UFC career.
His first defeat came at the hands of Stefan Struve in 2012, but he didn’t suffer another loss until fighting Junior dos Santos two years later.
Miocic then went on his iconic heavyweight run that led to him winning his first UFC title, before he dropped the belt to Cormier.
His last two defeats in Dana White‘s promotion came in his final two fights against Ngannou and Jones.
“Sorry I don’t get the W, but you can’t get em all,” Miocic said in an emotional statement, confirming his retirement after the loss to Jones.
“Sometimes it’s not your night; that is the nature of the beast.
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Miocic won the UFC heavyweight title for the first time in 2016Credit: UFC
“You can’t plan a perfect ending in this sport, but I guess the perfect ending is to have been lucky enough to do it at all.”