Jason Miller (fighter)

Early life

Miller was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and he grew up in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Miller's father was an 82nd Airborne paratrooper in the United States Army. After Miller was expelled from high school for fighting, he and his family had to move 40 miles so that he could go to school in a new district. Miller knew he wanted to compete professionally. He earned his yellow belt in Taekwondo at age 11 and joined his new High school's wrestling team and would challenge the instructors of karate schools to spar. He was guided by a judo instructor to attend one of the first mixed martial arts schools. Miller had his first fight in Virginia Beach when he was 17 years old, against 27-year-old Al "Superman" Dill. Miller won the fight and officially began his MMA career.

Mixed martial arts career

After his submission win over Ronald Jhun, earning Miller his first Superbrawl Championship, a riot broke out and Miller was punched in the back of the head by a fellow fighter, Mark Moreno. This set the stage for a grudge match, and Miller dominated Moreno, finishing him with an armbar at the end of round one making the shaka sign before finishing him.

On September 2, 2006, Mayhem won the Icon Sport Middleweight title from Robbie Lawler in a back and forth battle. After being staggered and nearly finished by Lawler, Mayhem secured an arm triangle and won in the third round. In December of the same year, Mayhem lost his first title defense to Frank Trigg via TKO in the second round, a fight many thought he was the favorite to win.

Mayhem stepped into the Dream 4 tournament on short notice and scored an impressive win in the semifinals, he was eliminated by Ronaldo Souza in the quarterfinals. Miller lost a unanimous decision to "Jacare" in a fast paced grappling style bout that saw him escape submission after submission.

After back and forth battles of words on Japanese, Brazilian and American media, Miller and Souza fought again, but this time for the Dream Middleweight belt. (the title was vacant as Gegard Mousasi moved to the Light Heavyweight division). The fight ended in a no-contest when Miller landed a soccer kick to Souza's forehead (formerly a legal strike, but had been outlawed), which opened a large gash and prompted a doctor stoppage. Both fighters agreed to face each other in an event in September 2009. The match was canceled after Souza signed with the Strikeforce promotion.

Miller fought Jake Shields on November 7, 2009 on CBS as a part of Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers. The fight was for the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship as Cung Le stepped down as champion. After a brief punching exchange that staggered Shields, the fight was mostly grappling, Miller lost via unanimous decision. The closest the match came to ending was in the third round when Miller secured a rear naked choke on Shields, but time ended before Shields tapped out.

Mayhem fought Tim Stout at Strikeforce: Nashville on April 17, 2010 and won the fight by with a ground and pound TKO at 1:47 of the first round.

Miller was expected to face Robbie Lawler on June 16, 2010 at Strikeforce: Los Angeles, but was removed from the card after the Tennessee Athletic Commission suspended him for his part in the Nashville Brawl. After Shields' win over UFC veteran and former Pride FC Welterweight and Middlweight Champion Dan Henderson, Mayhem confronted Jake Shields for a title rematch. Although Jake was not surprised, Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, and the rest of Team Gracie fought with Miller in the cage, prompting CBS announcer Gus Johnson to say "Gentlemen, we are on national television."

Although Mayhem aggressively called out Nick Diaz, the bout never materialized. Mayhem instead fought Kazushi Sakuraba on September 25, at Dream 16. In pre-fight interviews, Mayhem stated that he wished to be one of the only people to submit Sakuraba, "the Gracies couldn't do it, I want to". He would go on to do just that, and win the fight via arm triangle choke.

On April 22, 2011, Miller announced via Twitter that he had signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC due to his Strikeforce contract expiring.

Strikeforce: Nashville brawl

On April 17, 2010, following Jake Shields' victory over Dan Henderson, Miller entered the cage, without proper approval, during Shields' post-fight interview. During that interview, Mayhem interrupted Shields and asked "Where's my rematch, buddy?" Gilbert Melendez and Shields responded by pushing Miller away, and Nick Diaz then threw a punch at Miller which started a brawl. Members of the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu camp, including Melendez, Nick and Nate Diaz, attacked Miller while he was held down on the canvas by other members of the Gracie camp. The fight was eventually broken up by referees, members of Dan Henderson's corner and the promoter's security personnel. Miller and five other participants in the brawl were each given three-month suspensions, and fines ranging between $5,000 and $7,500.

Following the events of the Nashville Brawl, Miller expressed an interest in fighting Nick Diaz. The 170 lb Diaz refused stating he was the Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and needed to continue to fight at that weight. He requested Miller move down to 170 lb to fight him. Miller continued to attempt to set up a fight, offering 183 lb as a catchweight. Diaz counter-offered a catchweight of 181 lb. Scott Coker, CEO of Strikeforce was interested in setting up the fight, but failed to do so as Zuffa took over Strikeforce.

Return to the UFC

On April 22, 2011, Miller signed a multi-fight agreement with the UFC.

Miller was expected to face Aaron Simpson on July 2, 2011 at UFC 132. However, on May 27, 2011, it was revealed that Miller would be one of the coaches of The Ultimate Fighter Season 14, opposite to Michael Bisping Miller was replaced by Brad Tavares on the UFC 132 card.

Miller was defeated by Bisping on December 3, 2011 at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale. Round 1 was controlled by Miller with grappling, but Miller tired after that round, and was defeated via TKO at 3:34 of the third round.

Miller was then defeated by CB Dollaway on May 26, 2012 at UFC 146, (29-28, 30-26, 29-28). After dropping Dollaway with a right hand, Miller appeared to injure his left knee. He was taken down for the rest of the fight and lost via unanimous decision. Mayhem had very publicly stated on his Twitter page that if he lost the fight, he would retire.

One day following the loss, Dana White ignored Miller's statement of retirement, instead opting to publicly fire Miller. White cited unspecified "backstage antics" on the part of Miller as a partial reason for the cut as well as Miller being a "clown" in his wardrobe choices before the fight. Miller later stated his side of the story, describing it as a brief confrontation with backstage official Burt Watson over Miller's attempt to wear a gasmask and colorful paper bag over his face for his walk-out.

MMA Hour incident

On October 8, 2012, Miller appeared on internet talk-show, the MMA Hour. He was promoting an upcoming movie, Here Comes the Boom, and decided to give the interview "in character" as his character from the movie (Lucky Patrick). "Patrick" became upset when Ariel Helwani pressured him to give the interview as Jason Miller. The fictional Patrick, stormed off of the set in a rage.

Return To MMA

On October 26, 2013 Miller announced on his official Twitter page that he would return to fighting. Venator FC announced on February 9, 2016 that Miller would face Luke Barnatt at Venator FC III for the promotion's Middleweight championship on May 21. After missing weight by 24 lbs. Miller was pulled from the fight and instead fought Mattia Schiavolin in a Light Heavyweight fight. Miller won the first round but gassed out in the second before being submitted by a rear naked choke.

Miller went on to say in an interview with Chael Sonnen that the loss to Schiavolin helped him to begin to turn his life around from the legal troubles and drug addiction that have plagued him since his retirement in 2012. He also went on to say that he felt a positive energy being back in the cage and would fight on, as a Light Heavyweight.

Legal issues/arrests

In 2012, Miller was arrested after allegedly being found sleeping naked in a church. All charges were later dropped. Miller was arrested on charges of domestic violence on August 11, 2013 and released on bail on August 12. No charges were filed. On August 22, 2013 he was arrested again on the same charge of domestic abuse. In court on August 26 the two charges were combined into one case with two felony counts of "corporal injury of spouse." Miller plead "Not Guilty" and his bail was reset at $100,000 On October 9, 2013, Miller was arrested and on October 10 booked for a misdemeanor Contempt of Court charge for violating a "Stay Away" order, by sending a Snapchat. Miller was arrested on October 9, 2014 after a five-hour-long standoff with a SWAT team outside his Orange County, California home. Miller gave live updates over the five hours via Twitter. In March 2015, Miller was arrested outside of a bar in Laguna Beach, California and was charged with simple misdemeanor battery and resisting arrest. Video footage showed Miller outside the bar, putting up a fight against officers. On October 16, 2015 Miller was arrested again, after allegedly assaulting police officers. On July 11, 2016, Miller was arrested by Costa Mesa, California police for injuring a security guard and spitting on a police officer at the Saddle Ranch Chop House restaurant. No charges have been filed.

Mixed Martial Arts

Submission wrestling

Media

In the past, Miller appeared regularly on The Jason Ellis Show on Sirius XM Radio Faction (Sirius XM) XM 52 Sirius 41 on "Mayhem Mondays!!" as both a mixed martial arts expert and comedian, sharing amusing anecdotes and opinions.

Miller also appears briefly in several music videos of Jason Ellis' band "TaintStick"

Miller also authors a monthly article for Fight! Magazine with humorous articles on serious subjects.

He is the host of the MTV reality series Bully Beatdown in which he challenges bullies to a fight with other professional fighters, and if they accept, they have the opportunity to win $10,000. If the bully loses, the person he picked on wins the $10,000. In the first episode of the show's third season, Miller went on to take on the bully himself, making him lose all $10,000. Miller affectionately called his fans Mayhem Monkeys and himself the leader of the "monkey cult" and had a fan club of numbered monkeys.

Jason Miller appeared on G4's American Ninja Warrior, making it through the qualifying round with a time of 2:55.0. He was later eliminated in the second qualifying round.

He also appears in video games - Electronic Arts' EA Sports MMA and THQ's UFC Undisputed 3.

On July 20, 2010 (episode # 31), November 30, 2010 (episode #58), and September 28, 2011 (episode # 143), Jason Miller appeared on the podcast "The Joe Rogan Experience".

"Mayhem" took part in Here Comes the Boom, playing the role of "Lucky Patrick", an MMA fighter who goes in the ring against Kevin James' character, Scott Voss, in the film.