My First Fight: Pat Miletich

Filed under: FanHouse ExclusiveIn 1995 Pat Miletich had one long-term goal: getting into the UFC. His short-term goal? To make at least enough money so that he didn’t starve in the meantime. Something called the “Battle of the Masters” could help him a…

Filed under:

In 1995 Pat Miletich had one long-term goal: getting into the UFC. His short-term goal? To make at least enough money so that he didn’t starve in the meantime. Something called the “Battle of the Masters” could help him achieve both, or so he hoped.

Battle of the Masters was a one-night, eight-man, no-holds-barred (with the exception of biting and eye-gouging) fighting tournament at St. Andrew’s Gym in Chicago.

It was also winner-take-all. The prize for second place was little more than a pat on the back and a free bag of ice for your swollen face.

“I needed the money worse than any of those guys,” Miletich says now. “I don’t think they knew what they were getting into.”