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Jason Miller possibly embodies his fight moniker, "Mayhem," more than any other mixed martial artist.
After his UFC 146 decision loss to C.B. Dolloway, Miller was fired from the promotion both for performance and for a backstage incident that occurred that evening. In the aftermath, Miller retired from MMA and the ensuing few years were less than ideal for him. Since that retirement, Miller has faced substantial legal difficulties. He's been arrested multiple times for various incidents ranging from allegedly breaking into a church and sleeping there naked to a five hour long standoff with a SWAT team outside of his home in California. His most recent incident was an October 2015 arrest for allegedly assaulting the police.
Amidst his various difficulties, Miller announced that he was coming out of retirement and this past weekend he made his MMA return at Venator FC. Miller was set to face Luke Barnatt in a middleweight contest, but he missed weight and was rescheduled to face Mattia Schiavolin in a catch-weight contest at the same event instead.
Yesterday, Miller spoke with Chael Sonnen about, among other things, missing weight. At first, Miller tried to deflect the question with his trademark sense of humor but eventually he blamed the failure to a simple mistake on his part.
"Like I said, I'm Mayhem. If I'm gonna go I'm gonna go big. I do everything large and in charge. [Laughing]...
The truth is it happened pretty much the day of [the weigh-in]. The jet lag is one thing I forgot to take into account. Let me just tell the fighters out there in the world, if you're ever having some jet lag issues and you're trying to make weight and you're within about seven pounds of the weight, do not buy a bunch of liters of water and leave them by your bed because you too will step on the scale grossly overweight...
I was pretty light. I was like ‘alright, we're gonna do this!' But yeah the jet lag and I bought a bunch of liters of water and when I woke up the next day they were all gone and I was like 'what the fuck did I do? I'm fucked. I just fucked myself'... I feel terrible about it but the truth is it's been four damn years since I ever had to make weight so I'm not surprised."
The surprise wasn't just that he missed weight but how drastically over the 185 lb. limit he was. Miller, who once fought Georges St. Pierre at 170 lbs., weighed in at 209 lbs. which is 4 lbs. over the light heavyweight limit and 24 lbs. over the bout limit. For what it's worth, in a separate interview with Jonathan Shrager of MMA Underground, Miller said he foresees competing at light heavyweight from now on, claiming the weight cut is difficult and "takes years off my life."
Aside from the weigh-in fiasco, the bout itself was less than inspiring with Miller submitting to a rear-naked choke in the second round. Schiavolin managed to do in under two rounds what C.B. Dolloway failed to do over three, despite Dolloway having back control and mount on Miller for extended portions of their fight.
That bout, coincidentally, happened exactly four years ago today. In the interview with Sonnen, Miller also talked about UFC 146 and the backstage incident that got him fired. Though he had previously attributed the incident to a disagreement about his walk out entrance, Miller says the problem was really about his actions backstage.
"I'll tell you what happened. After I lost the damn fight, I went in there and asked for a damn shot of whiskey. The lady said, ‘this is not a bar!' and apparently that was Dana White's personal bar tender. So I walked off and was like, ‘ah geez what a c*nt' and she heard me and told on me like we're in the fucking fourth grade!
That's all that happened and they act like I went and burned the God damn building down. That seems to be the tendency when it comes to me. Everyone gets all bent out of shape and damn shits their pants."
But Miller says he intends to put those antics and that part of his life behind him and, despite the loss, is upbeat about his return. Several times during the interview he referenced knowing what went wrong and how to fix it and that this bout was just him knocking off ring rust from his long absence. It appears that he certainly doesn't intend to stop fighting now.
"It didn't work out for me that night but that happens. It's the business. I'm just happy that I'm gonna get back in there again because as soon as I can I'm looking for another fight. I'm putting the call out there. Somebody come at me with a contract and I'll fight again.
I really cleaned up my act and got serious about life again. I just was taking Mayhem to the far extremes, the far reaches of depravity and now I'm back here into the normal human world."
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Exaggerated. Nate Diaz says his rift with the UFC has been exaggerated.
Publicity. Nate Diaz says the Mayweather-McGregor talk is all a publicity stunt.
Cleveland sports moment. Stipe Miocic is set to defend his UFC heavyweight championship against Alistair Overeem at UFC 203 in Cleveland.
Called out. Frankie Edgar says Jose Aldo is trying and failing to be like Conor McGregor.
Drugs are bad. Diego Brandao received a 9 month suspension and a fine from NSAC for his positive marijuana test.
EXTRA CREDIT READING
GOAT. Karim Zidan of Bloody Elbow discusses the greatest freestyle wrestler ever, Buvaisar Saitiev and his transition into Chechen politics through sport.
MEDIA STEW
The special MMA Hour interview with Nate Diaz from yesterday. One of the better MMA interviews in recent memory.
Paige after DWTS finale.
Stipe on Hot 97
Bryan Caraway explaining why his accomplishments should stand on their own.
PBF says he's going to meet with JBJ in Albuquerque.
Michael Buffer weighing in on MayGregor.
LISTEN UP
There's a section talking about the best excuses in MMA history that is really great.
Talking the BJ Penn news
Bruce Buffer's podcast talking with Octagon girls Vanessa Hanson and Chrissy Blair if that's your type of thing.
TWEETS
Kind of amazing that he still works as a firefighter. Dangerous job.
These guys are seriously making me go outside and wave to people wearing my belt. It's pretty awesome.pic.twitter.com/X6ZB9kONbj
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) May 25, 2016
No comment.
Tito Ortiz at the rally! #TrumpRally pic.twitter.com/99695yHRAm
— MAGS-4-TRUMP2016 (@magnifier661) May 25, 2016
Punny
Finally! A cause I can firmly grasp. Something I can come to grips with. You get the point. https://t.co/wwTfEaySRs
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) May 20, 2016
Askren never stops going in.
Hey @danawhite remember that time you said you'd rather watch flies do it ? ....... You're welcomepic.twitter.com/kVxHkF0kwW
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) May 25, 2016
He sounds convinced.
4 every1 askin I hear Punk and I r fighting late summer. I don't have an official date. If I did I would tell ya. But we r for sure fighting
— Mickey Gall (@mickeygall) May 23, 2016
It got me.
I didn't know I was in this video lol pic.twitter.com/XTKXZw42Dp
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) May 25, 2016
They were being very nice to the Cavs.
Poor #Raptors , they're SO Canadian, they're literally giving the game away. "No, you have the ball." #24turnoversall love tho #wethenorth
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) May 26, 2016
Trying to go toe to toe with Floyd on the bank account front might not be the best plan.
Rockhold doing some sparring. There was a moment at the end where he looked a bit like Cruz.
Nate and his honors.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Stipe Miocic (15-2-0) vs. Alistair Overeem (41-14-0); UFC 203, September 10.
Ryan Bader (20-5-0) vs. Ilir Latifi (12-4-1); UFC Hamburg, September 3.
Alex Caceres (11-8-0) vs. Cole Miller (21-9-0); UFC 199, June 4.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2007: Quinton Jackson knocked out Chuck Liddell to become the UFC light heavyweight champion at UFC 71. This event also featured the coming out party for Houston Alexander who knocked out Keith Jardine 48 seconds into the first round.
2009: Pound-for-pound great Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto suffered his first defeat in 7 years, losing a split decision to Joe Warren at Dream 9. Also at this event, baseball star Jose Canseco made his lone MMA appearance submitting to strikes from Hong Man Choi.
2012: Junior dos Santos knocked out Frank Mir to defend his UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 146. In the co-main event, Cain Velasquez knocked out Antonio Silva to set up the rematch with Junior dos Santos. This event also featured the promotional debut of future light heavyweight title challenger Glover Teixeira who defeated Kyle Kingsbury with an arm-triangle choke. (And of course the final UFC fight in Jason Miller's career.)
Ayaka Hamasaki defeated WMMA legend Yuka Tsuji with a kimura to retain her Jewels 115 lb. championship at Jewels 19th Ring.
Birthdays
1986: UFC featherweight Jeremy Stephens
1985: UFC welterweight Lyman Good
1976: UFC commentator and former title challenger Kenny Florian
Think I missed a spot? Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.
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