UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (15-2) makes his first title defense on Sept. 10 when the promotion makes its first-ever trip to Cleveland at UFC 203.

Miocic, a fighter known to thrive in a road environment, is trying not to dwell on any hometown advantage when he faces Alistair Overeem (41-14, 1 NC).

"Cleveland has been starved for UFC, and we finally got it," said Miocic, who grew up 18 miles outside the city. "I'm going to look at it as just another fight, like I fought in Brazil [against former champion Fabricio Werdum].

"It's going to be amazing to have my fans and my family all out there to support me. But it's a fight. That's all I care about. It's just going to be me and him.”

Being locked in a cage opposite Overeem has proven an unenviable position of late.

The former world champion in K-1, Strikeforce and DREAM has won four consecutive fights, three by knockout or TKO. The last of which was in May, a jumping front kick followed by punches against former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski (25-12, 1 NC).

That was six days before Miocic captured the belt at UFC 198.

And in the heavyweight division, volatility abounds. No champion has ever made more than two consecutive title defenses, a fact not lost on Miocic.

The smallest mistake against the kickboxing legend could mean an immediate end to Miocic's reign at Quicken Loans Arena.

"It's the heavyweight division; there are some big boys," Miocic said. "We wear small gloves, and anything can happen.

"But I plan to hold onto this thing for a while."