Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic paid a visit to UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic during her stay in the US, where she was attending the 74th UN General Assembly.
The Croatian head of state met Miocic – who is American-born but of Croatian descent – in Cleveland where he showed her around the Strong Style Training Center in Valley View, where he’s been training for the past 20 years.
The pair exchanged gifts with Grabar-Kitarovic giving the fighter her trademark present – a Croatian football jersey with her name on the back. Miocic returned the favor by presenting the leader with a pair of boxing gloves.
The 37-year-old UFC champion held an improvised martial arts master class, showing the president a few fighting techniques.
Grabar-Kitarovic showed some MMA potential, with Miocic saying: “Croatian President @predsjednicarh came to Cleveland and stopped by to visit me. What an honor. She throws a mean left hook! Thank you Croatia for always supporting me. Love you all.”
“I did learn some excellent moves,” Grabar-Kitarovic joked. “I’ve got a campaign coming up. I think some of the moves will help me.”
Grabar-Kitarovic said the visit was important in terms of promoting a healthy lifestyle and fitness among Croatian people.
Meanwhile, Miocic’s great rival Daniel Cormier – whom he won the UFC heavyweight belt from in a rematch in August – has said he wants to complete a trilogy with the Croatian-American before retiring.