Cole Miller

Cole Miller (born April 26, 1984) is a retired American mixed martial artist, who competed in the featherweight division in the UFC.

Mixed martial arts career

Before giving it up to train for MMA full-time, Miller was a standout baseball player at Mount de Sales Academy (in Macon, Georgia), where he was raised. He was also a member of Macon-based Team Praxis, under instructor Cam McHargue, before moving on to American Top Team. Cole's younger brother, Micah, was a professional mixed martial artist with the WEC promotion.

Before turning pro, Cole was the Virginia-based, King of the Ring 135 lb Champion. As a professional, Miller was the WKA Mixed Martial Arts Lightweight Champion as well as the Indiana Based, Legends of Fighting, Lightweight Champion. He trains at the American Top Team academy in Coconut Creek, Florida, under Master Ricardo Liborio, whom he received Blue through Brown Belts in BJJ. Miller is a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Black Belt under Marcos "Parrumpinha" Da Matta who frequently corners him in his UFC fights. Miller made his featherweight debut in Shooto, being defeated by Shooto World Champion Takeshi Inoue by unanimous decision, while taking the fight on short notice.

The Ultimate Fighter

Miller was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 5 show, featuring lightweights. He was a member of Jens Pulver's Team. Cole won his preliminary fight on the show against Allen Berube by Triangle Choke in the first round. Cole then fought against Joe Lauzon in the quarter-finals of the competition. After a competitive first round, the two fighters engaged quickly in the second, with Cole Miller looking for submissions off his back. Lauzon then landed an illegal elbow to the back of Miller's head.

After taking the recovery time, Miller signaled that he was okay and the fight resumed. Lauzon immediately took Miller down and starting landing clean shots. Miller covered up and refused to improve his position, prompting the referee to stop the fight. After the fight, both Dana White and Lauzon were unhappy with the outcome of the fight, stating that the illegal blow was what caused Miller to stop attacking and cover up.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Miller made his official UFC debut at The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale, defeating Andy Wang via TKO at 1:10 of the 1st round.

He then went on to defeat Leonard Garcia at UFC: Fight Night 11. His winning streak came to a halt when he lost to Jeremy Stephens at UFC: Fight Night 12 by TKO in the 2nd round.

On July 5, 2008, at UFC 86, Cole submitted Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and 6-time Brazilian State champion, Jorge Gurgel, with a triangle choke in the 3rd round. Cole was a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the time. He later said that it was the biggest win of his career. He was awarded Submission of the Night.

Cole Miller went on to defeat Junie Browning on April 1, 2009, at UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann, finishing the fight early in the first round. After Browning was caught by a right hook from Miller, he shot in for a takedown. Miller stuffed it, and locked in a guillotine choke on Browning. Immediately after Miller got the win, he leaned down and yelled in Browning's face, "Who's overrated now?!"

Miller next fought Ultimate Fighter 8 winner Efraín Escudero at UFC 103, losing via first-round KO.

Miller submitted Dan Lauzon on January 2, 2010, at UFC 108 using a kimura with an inverted triangle hold in round one. He was once again awarded Submission of the Night honors.

Miller was expected to face Andre Winner on March 31, 2010, at UFC Fight Night 21, but an injury to Miller forced him from the card. He was replaced by Rafaello Oliveira.

Miller submitted The Ultimate Fighter 9 winner, Ross Pearson, via second round rear-naked choke on September 15, 2010, at UFC Fight Night 22. Coming into his fight with Pearson, many suggested that Miller would look for a takedown due to Pearson's superior striking. However, Miller outstruck Pearson in the second round, rocked him with a left hook, and hopped onto his back to sink in the fight ending rear naked choke. Miller won his second straight Submission of the Night honors.

Miller was expected to face Matt Wiman on January 1, 2011, at UFC 125, but the bout eventually took place on January 22, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 23. Miller was dominated by Wiman, resulting in a unanimous decision defeat.

Miller faced TJ O'Brien on August 14, 2011, at UFC on Versus 5. He won the fight via submission due to a one arm guillotine choke in the second round.

For his next fight Miller dropped to featherweight and faced Steven Siler on March 3, 2012, at UFC on FX 2. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Miller fought Nam Phan at UFC on Fox 4 on August 4, 2012. He lost the bout via split decision after three rounds.

Miller faced Bart Palaszewski on April 13, 2013, at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Miller faced Manny Gamburyan on August 17, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 26. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Miller faced Andy Ogle on October 26, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 30. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Miller faced Sam Sicilia on January 15, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 35. He won the fight via rear naked choke in the second round. The win also earned Miller his fourth Submission of the Night bonus award.

On April 9, 2014, Miller announced his new four-fight contract with UFC via Twitter.

Miller was expected to face Conor McGregor on July 19, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 46. However, Miller pulled out of the bout citing a thumb injury and was replaced by Diego Brandão.

Miller faced Max Holloway on February 14, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 60. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Miller faced Jim Alers on December 19, 2015, at UFC on Fox 17. The bout was ruled a No Contest after Miller was accidentally poked in the eye by Alers in the second round and was unable to continue.

Miller was expected to face returning veteran B.J. Penn on June 4, 2016, at UFC 199, replacing an injured Dennis Siver. However, Penn was removed from the card on May 23 after he was flagged for a potential anti-doping violation. Miller instead faced Alex Caceres. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Miller was expected to face Mizuto Hirota on October 15, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 97. However, the promotion announced on October 6 that they had cancelled the event entirely. In turn, the fight was rescheduled and eventually took place on December 17, 2016, at UFC on Fox 22 Miller lost the bout by unanimous decision. Miller has since been removed from the roster page on the UFC's website.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Submission of the Night (Four times) Knockout of the Night (One time) UFC.com Awards 2008: Ranked #6 Submission of the Year 2010: Ranked #2 Submission of the Year & Half-Year Awards: Best Submission of the 1HY

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Mizuto Hirota Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson

Sacramento, California, United States Loss

Alex Caceres Decision (unanimous) UFC 199

Inglewood, California, United States NC

Jim Alers NC (accidental eye poke) UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2

Orlando, Florida, United States Loss

Max Holloway Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch

Broomfield, Colorado, United States Win

Sam Sicilia Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou

Duluth, Georgia, United States Win

Andy Ogle Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Muñoz

Manchester, England Loss

Manny Gamburyan Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Win

Bart Palaszewski Submission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Nam Phan Decision (split) UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera

Los Angeles, California, United States Loss

Steven Siler Decision (unanimous) UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann

Sydney, Australia Win

TJ O'Brien Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States Loss

Matt Wiman Decision (unanimous) UFC: Fight for the Troops 2

Fort Hood, Texas, United States Win

Ross Pearson Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs. Palhares

Austin, Texas, United States Win

Dan Lauzon Submission (modified kimura) UFC 108

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Efraín Escudero KO (punches) UFC 103

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Junie Browning Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Win

Jorge Gurgel Submission (triangle choke) UFC 86

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Jeremy Stephens TKO (punches and elbows) UFC Fight Night: Swick vs. Burkman

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Leonard Garcia Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Thomas vs. Florian

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Andy Wang TKO (head kick and punches) The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Josh Souder Decision (split) LOF 10: Unbreakable

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Win

John Strawn Submission (armbar) Absolute Fighting Championships 19

Boca Raton, Florida, United States Loss

Takeshi Inoue Decision (unanimous) Shooto 2006: 7/21 in Korakuen Hall

Tokyo, Japan Win

Saul Mitchell Submission (triangle choke) Diesel Fighting Championships 1

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Joe Germain Submission (guillotine choke) Full Throttle 7

Duluth, Georgia, United States Win

Vince Libardi Submission (guillotine choke) International Freestyle Fighting 1

Fort Worth, Texas, United States Win

Dwayne Shelton Submission (rear-naked choke) CSC: River City Rumble

Mechanicsville, Virginia, United States Win

Jarrett Becks Submission (guillotine choke) Full Throttle 6

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

David Love TKO (punches) North American Combat Challenge 2

Key West, Florida, United States Loss

Josh Odom Decision (majority) Full Throttle 5

Duluth, Georgia, United States Win

Tim Honeycutt KO (knee) Full Throttle 4

Duluth, Georgia, United States Win

Chris Mickle Submission (triangle choke) Full Throttle 3

Duluth, Georgia, United States Win

Harris Norwood Submission (triangle choke) Full Throttle 2

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Mixed martial arts exhibition record Loss

Joe Lauzon TKO (punches)

(air date)

Win

Allen Berube Submission (triangle choke) (air date)