“Mayhem” is unlike most fighters in this sport. While most would categorize themselves as fighters or warriors, the 31-year-old categorizes himself as an entertainer – Extravagant cage entrances, the dyed hair, the unpredictable loud voice, all soaked in thirty gallons of charisma.
Miller, the twenty-something-year-old that lived in his van outside of the Ultimate Training Center in Huntington Beach, California aspired to be a UFC champion. While he did not get the ultimate prize for his spoils of war, he was fortunate enough to line his pockets for entertaining the masses, both inside and outside of a cage.
Last year when he signed on the dotted line for his contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, nobody could have predicted the fall from grace that would follow.
Being a reality television star as the host of MTV’s Bully Beatdown it seemed only natural that he would be a coach on The Ultimate Fighter. Alongside British poster-boy Michael Bisping the duo coached a series of talented 145 and 135-pound fighters and had plenty of out-of-cage shenanigans to go along with it.
While he shined in his coaching role, that didn’t cross over inside the Octagon. Miller walked to the Octagon twice in his second stint with the top-ranked organization, both times failing to get his hand raised.
When he retired I hoped that Miller could take what made him a must-see entity in the fight community and transfer that to the masses. Unfortunately things haven’t played out that way since.
A heated back-and-forth war of words in 140 characters or less ensued within days between UFC President Dana White and the recently exiled fighter that was capped off with White begging him to remain retired and Miller retaliating, begging the UFC figurehead to commit suicide.
Two days later Miller captured mainstream headlines, but not in a positive manner. The former UFC and Strikeforce fighter was arrested after Orange County police officers found him naked inside a church after reportedly fire extinguishers were discharged and pictures were broken.
The train continued to go off the rails last Monday when Miller had a bizarre appearance on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. The above video details Miller storming off the set of the show 45 minutes before he was scheduled to leave.
The entire time he insistently plays the role of Lucky Patrick, his small comedic part in newly released MMA-themed movie “Here Comes The Boom”. He threw around Helwani’s action figures, referred to Helwani, who is Jewish as Aryan, vulgarly cussed and referred to the Columbus Day Parade as the “wop parade” in his 15 minute tirade.
Everything about the post-UFC career of Jason Miller saddens me.
For a man that has dedicated his entire life to being a fighter, when he’s had his chance to test his skills in the ultimate proving ground he has failed, this has to be a bitter pill to swallow and one that makes you re-evaluate your livelihood.
I am far from qualified to speak on the mental health state of Jason Miller but from an outsider standpoint, I see a man that needs help. I see a fighter who is struggling with giving up the sport he dedicated his life to.
In boxing it’s not uncommon for fighters to struggle from hanging up their gloves and walking away from the four-sided ring. Some return over-and-over as a shell of their former selves, others squander their fortunes, but very few walk away with their head held high.
As someone who has been entertained by Jason Miller for years, I hope that he gets all the help he needs and is given the time and personal space to deal with whatever problems pushed him to vandalize a church in his Birthday suit.
At this point in his life, this isn’t about “Mayhem” Miller the flamboyant, hyperactive persona, this is about the person who resides underneath all of that.
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