With the outbreak of the coronavirus, Stipe Miocic is ‘not really worried about fighting’ at the moment, or his planned trilogy fight with Daniel Cormier. Instead, he wants to focus on his family and firefighting.

Having lost the UFC heavyweight title to Daniel Cormier in 2018, Miocic won back the belt at UFC 241 last August. The 37 year old hasn’t competed since, after being sidelined due to a retina injury caused by numerous inadvertent eye pokes in the fight. 

Speaking to reporter Megan Olivi on the UFC’s Instagram live (as transcribed by MMA Fighting), Miocic discussed his recovery and what his plans are for the next few months.

“They’re doing better, I still have spots. Day by day it might not go away, but I can see. I need the glasses regardless. It doesn’t help getting punched in the face for a living. I didn’t really think I needed them really bad until I really got them checked out after I tore my retina and he was like, ‘You need glasses,’ and I was like, ‘Dang it!’ I put them on, and it was like a game changer.”

The UFC wanted to book the trilogy with Cormier in the upcoming months, but the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has delayed the fight. Miocic says that the fight will go ahead in the summer time at the earliest but right now the delay isn’t worrying him, as he has bigger concerns in his life. 

Miocic works as a full-time firefighter in Ohio. The emergency services are spread thin during this pandemic and he has made firefighting his priority instead of fighting Cormier. He recognises the higher risk of infection that his colleagues are exposed to when making calls to populated areas.

“That way it’s looking now, it’s looking like summer, but I mean with this going on right now, honestly I’m not really worried about that,” Miocic said. “I’m worried about firefighting, and the paramedics out there and I got to do what I got to do. That’s my go to now.

“There’s so many people out there that need help. Because people that are going to stay at home, and some of them, they’re going to get sick. Unfortunately, I’m putting myself in harm’s way, which I know what I signed up for, I’m OK with that. I just want to make sure I’m OK. When I come home at the end of the day, I want to make sure my family’s OK.”

Firefighters and paramedics have been taking extra steps to stay safe while working during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We already have precautions,” Miocic said. “On every call we wear goggles, masks, we always wear gloves. I think dispatch talks to the car if we have to go to them to ask them if they have any flu like symptoms … so we know what to expect when we show up. “

Miocic also talked about his family and how they are protecting themselves from infection.

“Honestly, we’re doing great,” Miocic said. “We’re listening to being socially distant from everyone. I’ve went out once or twice in the past week just for food and stuff, and we’ve just been smart about it. We went on a few walks, but no one was around us. Everyone’s doing great.”

Do you think Stipe Miocic vs Daniel Cormier III will happen as early as summer 2020?