Stipe Miocic have revealed that his day job as a firefighter played a pivotal role as he claimed the UFC heavyweight championship. The Ohio puncher claimed the heaviest prize in the sport earlier this month with a knockout win over Fabricio Werdum, silencing 45,000 fans packed into a Brazilian stadium.But for Miocic, fighting a dangerous heavyweight champion on enemy territory pales into insignificance compared with his 9-to-5 job fighting fires. Ill be back at work. I will take my belt in to show the guys, they want to see it. Stipe Miocic It definitely does help because it allows you to be calm, cool and collected under any situation, Miocic exclusively told Sky Sports.Even with fighting, you are calm. Even if its chaos, you still have to keep your mind right. Ill be back at work. I will take my belt in to show the guys, they want to see it. Stipe Miocic won via knockout inside two minutes The 33-year-old American has been celebrated in his home city of Cleveland after breaking the notorious sports curse associated with the NFLs Browns, the NBAs Cavaliers and the MLBs Indians - three teams that have not won a major title since 1964.Miocic (15-2) achieved his feat by back-pedalling away from the aggressive Werdum and landing the decisive shot as he retreated in Curitiba. Stipe Miocic has won three in a row He was trying to push the pace, which was fine but I was getting my timing, so I knew it was a matter of time, he said. I was beginning to take him apart.I was catching him. I hit him with one right hand and he stumbled. Thats when he started to fire at me, so I stepped to my right and hit him with that right hand. I was seeing that his hands were starting to fall down a little bit. Five talking points Is Miocic the future of the heavyweights? We train how to throw punches when going backwards all the time. Then some instinct comes into too - thats survival mode.Its the heavyweight division, and thats why everyone loves a heavyweight. Were big boys and it doesnt take much to knock someone out. Also See: Five talking points Miocic wins UFC belt McGregor: Floyd needs me Can McGregor box? Roy Oswalt Jersey . 3. Trevor Ariza left them talkin about 40. Ariza made eight 3-pointers and scored a career-high 40 points to help the Washington Wizards win their sixth straight game, 122-103 over Philadelphia on Saturday night. Craig Biggio Jersey . -- Henry Josey watched helplessly from the sideline last fall, rehabbing from a serious knee injury, while Missouri was getting pushed around in its first SEC season. http://www.baseballastrosproshop.com/jim...-astros-jersey/. Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. Custom Houston Astros Jerseys . The injury could land Machado on the 15-day disabled list, but its not as serious as it looked on Monday night, when the third baseman crumpled in a heap at the plate after taking an awkward swing in a game against the New York Yankees. Jose Cruz Jr. Jersey . The Durban-based Sharks withstood a furious second-half fightback to beat the Queensland Reds 35-20 for a fourth straight win which gave them a five-point lead atop the championship table. The Hamilton-based Chiefs scored two late tries to beat the Cape Town-based Stormers 36-20 for their third win, after the Stormers rallied from 24-6 down to 24-20 with six minutes remaining. TORONTO -- Steve Nash had a good chuckle at ESPN personality Jason Whitlocks suggestion that Canadians in the NBA are not as motivated to succeed as their American counterparts. "Andrew Wiggins is from Canada," Whitlock said on Keith Olbermanns ESPN show Monday night. "And Canadian athletes, I think, among NBA players and NBA people, perhaps dont want it as much as even some of the Europeans, and certainly the American players." Nash, a two-time NBA MVP and the general manager of Canadas senior mens squad, was in town for a three-day camp before the team departed for a European exhibition series. He responded to Whitlocks comments after the teams final practice. "Its a wonderful sweeping generalization, really good. Hit it on the head there," Nash said. The 40-year-old, who broke into the league during the 1996-97 season with the Phoenix Suns, admitted he had to overcome knocks in his game as a young player making a name for himself. He said Wiggins will have to learn to silence his critics too. "I had to prove that I was athletic enough to play in the NBA," said the Los Angeles Lakers point guard. "His athleticism isnt a question, theyre worrying about his motivation and desire. "Hell overcome it. Hell take that criticism, like he always has over the last four or five years, and overcome it. Theres times where wed always like to see him show a little more alpha male, but when the games on the line, I never see him turn away slights as motivation and hell overcome it." When asked about the perception in the NBA that Canadian players are not tough enough or eager enough, Canada head coach Jay Triano had a differing opinion. "Steves pretty tough to play and be able to do what hes doing," Triano said. "I think Tristan (Thompson) is a tough player. Robert Sacre is a tough player. Maybe well go on this trip and drop the gloves a little bit and create tthat hockey mentality then well define ourselves a little bit better.dddddddddddd" Triano added that the upcoming 11-game, 20-day European road trip will play a big part in defining his teams toughness. "Were going to be playing against men who are representing their country and getting ready to play in the (World Cup) on their soil," said Triano. "This isnt going to be easy. Well find out a little bit about our toughness while were on this trip and I think its something that will evolve as these players get more experience." On Tuesday, Canada Basketball announced its 15-man roster for the exhibition trip, which includes Cory Joseph (San Antonio), Andrew Nicholson (Orlando), Kelly Olynyk (Boston) and Robert Sacre (Lakers). Noticeably absent from the roster are the likes of Wiggins and Anthony Bennett (Cleveland) and Tyler Ennis (Phoenix). Both Ennis and Bennett have been around the three-day training camp, but did not participate. "Maybe next summer when the Olympics are on the line, we can get everybody together, but were talking about so many dynamics: the schedule, bodies, what their (NBA) clubs want, what their teams feel is best for them at this time in their career," said Nash. "Even the guys that arent on the trip, AB (Bennett), Tyler came by today, Tristan last night. Guys want to be a part of it. "I think were going to have a great turnout next summer when it really matters and weve got enough guys here this summer for it to make a difference." The team departed for its four-city road trip on Tuesday. Canada opens Thursday against Slovenia and will also play in Croatia, Italy and Spain before returning home Aug. 13. Canada will play games against World Cup host Spain and qualifiers Slovenia, Ukraine, Croatia (twice), Serbia, Turkey and Angola. They will also play exhibition games with non-qualifiers Georgia, Italy and Bosnia. ' ' '