Background and career
Jason Miller (born December 24, 1980), best known as Mayhem Miller, is an American podcaster, mixed martial artist, coach, actor, and television host. Formerly “Mayhem the Newsman,” on the Adam Carolla Show. Currently, special guest host on "Love & War with Dominick Cruz." He previously trained with Kings MMA in Huntington Beach, California, and continues to train and coach fighters at several gyms in Los Angeles, California, including Fight Science and Forj Boxing and Fitness. He travels across the country to lead mixed martial arts seminars focusing on teaching techniques, as well as mental health and recovery awareness. Miller was a top ranked Middleweight MMA fighter who fought in the UFC, Strikeforce, WFA, WEC and DREAM. He was the host of MTV's Bully Beatdown, a worldwide syndicated reality competition show created by Mark Burnett. In each episode, Jason "Mayhem" Miller challenged bullies to fight against a professional mixed martial artist for cash prizes. Miller is an ambassador for Merging Vets and Players, an organization that empowers combat veterans and former professional athletes by creating a community and providing services to assist with transition and promote personal development after their service is complete.
Jason Miller was born in an army hospital on Christmas Eve, 1980. Both parents were in the military and spent most of his youth moving around the United States, residing on Army bases' government housing- the longest on Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Miller developed an interest in combat sports at an early age and trained in traditional martial arts for periods as a child. His father was a paratrooper in the United States Army's 82nd Airborne Division and a former amateur boxer. Miller has attributed a lot of his fighting experience in interviews to neighborhood street fights and brawls with his father. In high school, he was on the wrestling team and trained in judo, and became interested in mixed martial arts after watching video tapes of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pride, and Vale Tudo Brazil, and joined a mixed martial arts gym at the age of 16. [6] He made his mixed martial arts debut at the age of 17, forgoing his senior prom, to fight 27-year-old Al "Superman" Dill in a Virginia Beach event. Miller won by unanimous decision and embarked on a career in professional mixed martial arts.
On October 16, 2004, Miller won his first Superbrawl Championship with a submission victory over Ronald Jhun. During the event, a riot broke out, and Miller was punched in the back of the head by fellow fighter Mark Moreno. This set the stage for a grudge match in which Miller defeated Moreno with an armbar in the first round. Miller made the shaka sign shortly before the finish. On September 2, 2006, Miller 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 choke and won via submission 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 in which he was favored to win. Miller stepped into the Dream 4 tournament on short notice, progressing to the semifinals before his eventual elimination by Ronaldo Souza in the quarterfinals. Miller lost the fight by unanimous decision. After a period of verbal sparring on Japanese, Brazilian and American media, Miller and Souza fought a rematch for the Dream Middleweight belt, which had recently been vacated after Gegard Mousasi's departure to the Light Heavyweight division. The fight ended in a no-contest after Miller landed an illegal soccer kick to Souza's forehead, opening a large gash and prompting a doctor's stoppage. Both fighters agreed to face each other again in September 2009, but the match was canceled after Souza signed with the Strikeforce promotion. Miller fought Jake Shields for the vacant Strikeforce Middleweight Championship on November 7, 2009, on CBS as a part of Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers. Miller lost via unanimous decision (48–47, 49–46, and 49–46). On April 17, 2010, Miller defeated Tim Stout at Strikeforce: Nashville by 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, Miller confronted Jake Shields for a title rematch. Although Shields 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, a fight between the two never materialized. Mayhem instead fought Kazushi Sakuraba on September 25 at Dream 16. In pre-fight interviews, Miller expressed his desire to submit Sakuraba, saying "The Gracies couldn't do it. I want to." Miller won the fight by arm triangle choke. On April 22, 2011, Miller announced via Twitter that in the wake of his Strikeforce contract expiration, he had signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC.
On April 17, 2010, following Jake Shields' victory over Dan Henderson, Miller entered the cage unexpectedly during Shields' post-fight interview. During that interview, Miller interrupted Shields and asked "Where's my rematch, buddy?" Shields and associate Gilbert Melendez responded by pushing Miller away. Melendez, Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, and other members of the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu camp attacked Miller, initiating a mass brawl. 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-pound 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. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker expressed interest in scheduling a fight, but was unable to do so prior to Strikeforce's acquisition by Zuffa.
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 coach opposite Michael Bisping on Season 15 of The Ultimate Fighter. Miller was replaced by Brad Tavares on the UFC 132 card. On December 3, 2011, Bisping defeated Miller during The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale. Miller lost the fight via TKO at 3:34 of the third round. Miller was then defeated by C. B. Dollaway on May 26, 2012, at UFC 146. 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 (29–28, 30–26, and 29–28). Miller had previously stated on his Twitter page that if he lost the fight, he would retire. Despite Miller's claim that he was considering retirement, Dana White opted to fire Miller one day after his loss to Dollaway. 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 described 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.
On October 8, 2012, Miller appeared on Ariel Helwani's internet talk show the MMA Hour to promote his upcoming film Here Comes the Boom. Miller gave the interview "in character" as Lucky Patrick, his role from the film, and became upset when Helwani asked him to instead give the interview as Jason Miller. Still in his persona as Lucky Patrick, Miller stormed off of the set in a rage.
