Cole Miller Interview

Cole Miller is a former TUF season 5 contestant who is now 2-0 in the UFC. Irish Whip Fighting caught up with Miller by email last week and here are highlights of the interview.

Irish Whip Fighting: Hey man, how's everything going?

Cole Miller: Going alright. Just got through training, so I’m tired.

IWF: What's been your experience training with American Top Team (ATT)?

Miller: Training with them is the best life decision I could’ve made. I'm always around great friends, coaches, training partners, and people.

IWF: Do you like ATT better than your former team, Team Praxis?

Miller: Definitely. There’s no comparison. It’s a bunch of world class athletes and fighters [at ATT]. Training at Team Praxis was fun, [but] it was just time for me to go. I didn’t have much else to learn where I was at.

IWF: On The Ultimate Fighter 5 you played some hilarious pranks. The other fighters also pulled pranks on you. Would you consider yourself a “prankster”?

Miller: I dunno. I mean I just don’t like seeing people down in the dumps. If someone is down I’ll try to make them smile; if they're bored, I’ll try to make them entertained. The house does weird things to your morale. I just wanted to help keep my new roommates and friends as sane as possible.

IWF: I was talking to Jens Pulver not too long ago and he said, "Cole Miller is a well-rounded athlete already. I think he's just got to trim up his heart and his courage a little bit; he needs to believe in himself. Once he does that, he'll be unstoppable. He's destroying people right now. He's got the attributes and the skills, but he needs to believe in himself." Have you taken steps to improve your courage?

Miller: Well, I don’t know about the courage thing, but he is right about believing in myself. Sometimes you're reluctant to do certain moves or techniques because you're not sure if your techniques will work on someone at that level. While I was on the show I had this problem. But not anymore. I look forward to going out to MFS [Miletich Fighting Systems] and possibly helping Jens out with a future fight. I would have [helped] for this one but I had to help my bro for his fight on the same card. But, I would love to show him the steps I’ve made. Jens was a big influence in my life during that period.

IWF: What fighters showed the most potential out of all of the TUF 5 contestants?

Miller: Most potential: Corey Hill; most talent: Nate Diaz.

IWF: You've won both of your official fights in the UFC. Who do you want next? Maybe Joe Lauzon?

Miller: To be honest, I don’t have any interest in fighting anyone from the show unless it gets to contendership status. I wanna fight the guys who’ve already fought in the UFC. I wanna f*** up the guys nobody wants to fight. You wanna talk about courage? I’m ready to take everyone on that will do something for my name. I’m not scared of anyone. I’m a killer and I’m here to kill people. I really wanted to fight Huerta next but that [fight] was given to [Clay] Guida.

IWF: Being only 23 years old, where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?

Miller: Black belt in jiu-jitsu, kick boxing, and solid wrestling -- the kind of fighter that can beat anyone in the world on any day and most likely will, when they step in front of me.

IWF: Steroids have become a huge issue in MMA lately. Why are these guys taking them if they know that they'll probably get caught?

Miller: I think these guys are in it for the short run. None of these guys taking juice will be in the UFC in 10 years. I’m all-natural. I’ve never taken stuff like that and never will. I treat my body well because it’s all I have. When it starts to break down I’ll be done. So, I’ll eat right [and] train right. They don’t care if they get caught. If they really cared, they wouldn’t do it. I would love to fight some of these guys on HGH or steroids if they were clean. Another thing I'd like to fight these guys at 155 [lbs.]. All these guys blow up to 185 on fight day. F*** that. They should do same day weigh-ins. Fight me at 155 on the dot.

IWF: I hear that you were a great baseball player. What made you decide to give that up for MMA?

Miller: I gave it up because it wasn’t fun anymore. I found MMA by chance.

IWF: Your younger brother Micah is currently fighting in the WEC, I believe. How is he doing? Does he show signs of potential?

Miller: He's always had potential. Now it’s becoming talent[ed]. He gets better daily [so] I feel bad for his opponents.

IWF: Who do you think will win the following fights?

Miller: Anyone can win on any given day with how crazy things go in MMA but [here is] who I think is most likely to win...

IWF: Jens Pulver vs. BJ Penn 3?

Miller: BJ

IWF: Manny Gamburyan vs. Nate Diaz 2?

Miller: Nathan

IWF: Cole Miller vs. Joe Lauzon 2?

Miller: Of course I have to say me.

IWF: Are there any sponsors that you would like to thank?

Miller: Tapout,streetwise.

IWF: Do you have anything to say to your fans?

Miller: Thanks for the support thats what keeps me fighting, and to everyone that hates me; i hate you too and you're also why I fight.

(Originally conducted for MMA Madness)