Jason “Mayhem” Miller’s choice to retire from MMA was the tough, but correct, decision to make.
In the Cage podcast host Jason Floyd broke the news on his Twitter earlier this evening.
Jason “Mayhem” Miller is currently on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani and he says he is retired #MMA
— Jason Floyd (@Jason_Floyd) May 28, 2012
Miller’s retirement stems from his loss to C.B. Dollaway at UFC 146 and subsequent firing by UFC President Dana White.
Firing Miller comes on the heels of two straight losses, both of which were extremely lopsided. He did not show a ton of effort, and any incidents behind the scenes would be magnified because of it.
Let’s take a look at why Miller’s choice to walk away from MMA was the right thing to do.
Going Nowhere Fast
Miller could have joined another organization after being released from his UFC duties, but why? UFC is the sport’s most popular brand, leaving its estranged athletes nowhere to go but down.
Minimal effort and two straight losses did not bode well for Miller’s future inside of the octagon. Even if White had allowed Miller to remain with the company, he was not even close to contending for any UFC glory.
Why commit yourself to brutal punishment if you are not going to grab the accolades associated with victory?
Miller was embarrassed by Dolloway in UFC 146 and Michael Bisping before that. He has not made any friends since his return to UFC, and he has digressed as a fighter.
Man Without a Country
Miller began his career with UFC then moved to Japanese promotions and finally to Strikeforce. He has not found a home anywhere and probably would have bounced around a few more times.
Miller’s antics have not endeared him to any MMA brass, and his newest antics did not earn him any favors among current UFC fighters.
Fighting is tough enough as it is. When it is you against the world, it is even more difficult.
Every sport needs a villain or someone to soak up negative media attention. Generally, that person needs to be talented in order to make up for their unfavorable publicity.
Miller grabbed headlines in his recently short stint with UFC, and not in a good way. His off-camera incidents are not justified by his poor performances in the octagon.
I’m sure it was a tough choice, but Miller made the right one.
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