Photo: Instagram/Stipe Miocic
Stipe Miocic is prepared to cosplay as “Stipe Exotic” en route to the Octagon if Modelo reaches its $500,000 fundraising goal for First Responders First.
Stipe Miocic will walk to the Octagon as his alter-ego “Stipe Exotic” should Modelo raise $500,000 as part of its #CincUp challenge benefitting First Responders First.
The rules are as follows: Modelo — for which Miocic is a sponsored athlete — will donate $1 (up to $500,000) for every public Instagram post using the hashtag: #CincUp. The campaign will occur on May 5, 2020, in honor of Cinco de Mayo. Proceeds will benefit First Responders First.
MMA Mania caught up with UFC’s Heavyweight champion earlier this afternoon. Miocic was asked how much money Modelo needed to raise for Miocic to dress up as Tiger King’s Joe Exotic en route to the Octagon.
“I mean, if they get up to the $500,000 that they’re going for, I’m definitely down,” Miocic replied.
Miocic (19-3) doubles as a firefighter, but succeeding in multiple avenues is nothing new for him. He is a Golden Gloves champion, NCAA Division 1 wrestler, and a college baseball standout that was scouted by MLB teams. Dominick Reyes, once an NFL hopeful, put a lot of stock in his own abilities as a cross-sport athlete heading into the Jon Jones fight.
And Miocic gets where he is coming from.
“I definitely do. I think it definitely helps with some of the stuff we do,” he said. “Like baseball helps with reaction. Of course wrestling teaches you the grind and how to be tough. I think he’s right to an extent. Yes, definitely.”
Some fighters are thrilled with UFC for pressing forward with events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Others are choosing to stay put … and Miocic aligns with the latter.
“Right now I’m not worried about that [fighting.] I’m worried about what’s going on in the world. Hence why I teamed up with Modelo,” Miocic expressed. “My gym is not even opening. I can’t even train. Once everything cools down and my gym opens up and I can get a full camp, then great.”