Short answer? Stipe Miocic is a northeast Ohio guy. He was born in Euclid, Ohio, and he fights out of Independence, Ohio, with Strong Style Fight Team. That’s the same gym where he’s trained for most of his career, and you won’t find him at a big-name camp in Florida or California.
| L | Jon Jones TitleKO/TKO · Spinning Back Kick Body · R3 4:29 | UFC 309: Jones vs. MiocicNov 16, 2024 |
| L | Francis Ngannou TitleKO/TKO · Punch to Head At Distance · R2 0:52 | UFC 260: Miocic vs. NgannouMar 27, 2021 |
| W | Daniel Cormier TitleDecision - Unanimous · R5 5:00 | UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3Aug 15, 2020 |
| W | Daniel Cormier TitleKO/TKO · Punches to Head At Distance · R4 4:09 | UFC 241: Cormier vs. Miocic 2Aug 17, 2019 |
| L | Daniel Cormier TitleKO/TKO · Punches to Head In Clinch · R1 4:33 | UFC 226: Miocic vs. CormierJul 7, 2018 |
So where is Stipe actually from?
Cleveland, more or less. Euclid is a suburb east of the city. Miocic graduated from Eastlake North, another nearby community.
He’s also a lifelong sports fan around here. He’s a big Cleveland sports fan and roots for Ohio State athletics. And before MMA, he wrestled for three years at Cleveland State and qualified for the 2003 NCAA Championships.
So when you hear “Cleveland’s heavyweight,” that isn’t a marketing line. It’s just where he’s from.
What’s the gym he trains at?
It’s Strong Style Mixed Martial Arts & Training Center in Independence. LinkedIn describes it as Stipe Miocic’s primary MMA training gym. It’s also a regular community gym. It offers MMA, fitness, jiu-jitsu and youth classes.
Cleveland Magazine once described it as a no-frills business park gym in Independence. Honestly, that fits the guy. Not flashy, just work.
How long has he been there? In 2005 he was invited to be a training partner for Dan Bobish at Strong Style. That’s where it started, long before the UFC belts.
The coaches fans hear about
The names below come from a WKYC story published when Miocic was champion. Coaching staffs change, so treat this as a snapshot and not a current roster.
- Head coach: Marcus Marinelli
- Striking coach: Alex Cooper
- Grappling and jiu-jitsu coaches: Pablo Castro and Steve Kinas
- Strength and conditioning coach: Bob Kaleal
Miocic has been open about how close he is with Marinelli. He’s said Marinelli is like his best friend, and then that he is his best friend.
Why didn’t he move for camp like everyone else?
Good question, and fans ask it a lot. Fighters often relocate, sometimes with their families, for a training camp. Miocic didn’t do that.
His reason was loyalty. He called it “a Cleveland thing” and said outsiders don’t understand it. He also went further and said this, which fans still bring up:
“I could be 0-100, and I still wouldn’t leave.” (WKYC)
That’s a pretty clear answer, isn’t it?
What does a Miocic fight camp look like?
We don’t have a day-by-day breakdown, and I won’t invent one. But a few things are on the record.
The UFC’s embedded series for UFC 241 showed him wrapping up his Cleveland training camp. That was ahead of his rematch with Daniel Cormier. And for one title defense, Cleveland Magazine reported he started a two-session-a-day camp in late July.
That article is older, so don’t read it as his routine for every camp. It does show how the work was set up, though. Early and late sessions, at the same gym, near home.
Does he have a day job?
Yep, and that’s what surprises plenty of casual fans. Wikipedia lists his occupation as firefighter. On3 reported in 2025 that he still works as an active firefighter in Ohio.
That’s one more reason staying put makes sense. Camp and work both happen in the same region.
Quick facts at a glance
| Item | What’s reported |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Euclid, Ohio |
| Fights out of | Independence, Ohio |
| Main gym | Strong Style MMA & Training Center |
| Head coach | Marcus Marinelli |
| College | Cleveland State (wrestling) |
| Other work | Firefighter in Ohio, per 2025 reporting |
We’re keeping this to city and gym level, which is all that’s publicly reported. Nothing more specific than that belongs here.
Is he still fighting, and is he still training there?
Here’s what’s confirmed. His last fight was a TKO loss at UFC 309 on November 16, 2024. One tracking site notes no official retirement announcement and lists him as inactive. His career record is 20-5.
So is he in a camp right now? Nothing publicly confirms that. I’d rather say so than guess.
He’s still very much in the news back home, though. He headlined the 2026 Croatian-American Sports Hall of Fame class, with a ceremony on Oct. 24 in Eastlake. That’s a nice reminder of how rooted he is in that part of Ohio.
If you’re curious how he ended up in that last fight, Jon Jones’ win over Miocic at UFC 309 is part of the story. And if you like this kind of hometown-versus-big-camp contrast, our piece on where Jon Jones lives and trains in Albuquerque is a fun comparison.
Why this matters to you as a fan
Most of us assume top fighters have to move to a famous camp. Miocic is proof that isn’t always true. He built a heavyweight title run in a regular gym near the town he grew up in.
And if you ever find yourself in the Cleveland area, you now know the name of the gym. Just remember it’s a working gym for the community, not a tourist stop. Check Strong Style’s own channels before you plan anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Stipe Miocic live?
He’s from the Cleveland area of northeast Ohio and was born in Euclid. We’re not going beyond that, since he hasn’t publicly shared anything more specific.
What gym does Stipe Miocic train at?
Strong Style MMA & Training Center in Independence, Ohio. It’s the gym he’s been tied to for most of his career.
Who is Stipe Miocic’s head coach?
Marcus Marinelli, according to reporting from his title-reign years. Staff can change over time.
Has Stipe Miocic retired?
There’s no official retirement announcement that I could find. His last fight was in November 2024, and no new bout has been announced.
So that’s the picture, friend. A hometown guy, a no-frills gym, and a loyalty that never wavered. If news breaks about his next move, we’ll be here to tell you where he’s training.
Sources
- WKYC: Miocic remains loyal to Strong Style Gym
- Cleveland Magazine: King of the Cage
- Cleveland 19: Why Miocic’s gym gives him an edge
- On3: Miocic at Browns training camp
- Wikipedia: Stipe Miocic
- Next-Fight: Stipe Miocic status
- Yahoo Sports / News-Herald: Croatian-American Sports Hall of Fame
- UFC 241 Embedded, Episode 3
Last updated: October 2026
