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“You Did So Much for…”: Ex-UFC Champ Mourns Passing of Jim Brown, an NFL Legend and First African-American UFC Commentator

Afnan Chougle
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Jim Brown UFC

The sports world is mourning the passing of Jim Brown, the iconic running back for the Cleveland Browns and the first African-American UFC commentator. Brown died at the amazing age of 87, having made a lasting influence on both the NFL and the world of mixed martial arts. Brown is most remembered for leading the Cleveland Browns to a memorable NFL championship in 1964.

 

However, it was his choice to pursue acting after the 1965 season that demonstrated his adaptability outside of the field. Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic has joined the sports community in grieving Jim Brown’s death.

Stipe Miocic pays tribute to Jim Brown

Stipe Miocic, former UFC heavyweight champion, and Cleveland native, shared his tremendous grief on social media after learning the tragic news. Miocic paid tribute to Brown as a great sports hero, highlighting his tremendous achievements to both their shared city and the world of sports.

Miocic’s tweet, in which he described Brown as a hero and one of the greatest human beings he had ever met, communicated the influence Brown had on Cleveland and the sport of mixed martial arts. The ex-champion ended by wishing his late friend eternal peace. He wrote:

“A hero, a sports legend, and more importantly, one of the best human beings I’ve ever known. You did so much for this city and the sport. May you rest in peace, my friend.”

Jim Brown’s passing leaves a void in the sports world, but his legacy as an outstanding player and pundit will go on to inspire future generations. The ex-UFC champion’s genuine reaction says much about this amazing figure’s tremendous influence and long legacy.

Stipe Miocic in UFC

Stipe Miocic is an MMA veteran and one of the best UFC heavyweight fighters of all time. He debuted in 2011 and won the UFC championship in 2016.

Miocic lost the championship to Daniel Cormier after successfully defending it three times in 2018. He did, however, reclaim the heavyweight title and defeat Cormier again in 2019 and 2020.

The next year, the American was scheduled to defend his championship against Francis Ngannou, whom he had defeated in 2018. However, Miocic was unable to defeat Ngannou this time and therefore lost his championship.

Stipe Miocic has been inactive in the division since the loss in 2021. According to reports, Miocic is likely to return shortly and challenge Jon Jones for the championship. The fight, however, has not yet been formally declared.

What are your thoughts on Miocic’s UFC career? What do you guys think about Miocic’s tribute to Jim Brown?

About the author

Afnan Chougle

Afnan Chougle

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Afnan Chougle is a UFC author and content manager at The SportsRush. Afnan has written over 900 articles about combat sports before joining The SportsRush. He has now worked in the industry for over two years. He uses his expertise and enthusiasm to advance his professional career and offers insightful commentary on anything related to combat sports. Since UFC 229, Khabib Nurmagomedov fan Afnan has faithfully followed MMA. Besides "The Eagle," Muhammad Ali is his favorite athlete. Apart from his professional exploits as a UFC journalist, Afnan enjoys honing his skills as an amateur actor/boxer and loves going on occasional treks.

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