For those of you wondering why Jason “Mayhem” Miller was never again seen inside of a Strikeforce hexagon following his April 2010 victory over Tim Stout, UFC president Dana White decided to shed some much needed light on the subject on Wednesday.
While most pundits professed the obvious answer was written all over the ‘Strikeforce: Nashville’ brawl wall, White confirmed last year’s rumble did in fact lead to Miller’s exile from the San Jose, California based company.
“Mayhem Miller had a contract with those guys,” White told a group of reporters following today’s UFC 129 press conference. “Mayhem, he’s banished from CBS for life. He wasn’t being fought because he couldn’t fight on Showtime, he couldn’t fight on CBS, so he was in a bad position.
“So that’s why [we signed him to the UFC].”
After dominating veteran Dan Henderson to retain his middleweight crown last April, Jake Shields took the mic to address the national primetime audience. Miller, the man Shields had recently defeated for the open 185-pound title, jumped in the cage and demanded a rematch.
Shields didn’t take too kindly to Miller’s antics and shoved him off. Miller immediately charged back and ignited the worst riot in mixed martial arts history.
“I haven’t talked to Mayhem about this, this is just what I believe and conversations I’ve had with [UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva … I think he was put in there to promote a fight [against Shields] and anyone who would throw Mayhem Miller in there when the Diaz brothers are in there, it’s a (expletive) big melting pot for disaster. I don’t blame Mayhem for the whole situation,” White shared.
“We control what happens inside that Octagon, the fighters do not. In our organization you don’t see melees break out and huge fights.”
The controversial 185-pounder was last seen posting a submission win over Kazushi Sakuraba at Dream.16 this past September. Mayhem makes his return to the big leagues against Aaron Simpson at UFC 132.
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