Cole Miller (born April 26, 1984) is a retired American mixed martial artist, who most recently competed in the featherweight division in the UFC. His nickname "Magrinho" means "skinny" in Portuguese.
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.[2] 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.
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.[3] Cole was a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the time. He later said that it was the biggest win of his career.[4] 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 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 submitted The Ultimate Fighter 9 winner, Ross Pearson, via second round rear-naked choke on September 15, 2010, at UFC Fight Night 22.[9] 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,[10] but the bout eventually took place on January 22, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 23.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Miller fought Nam Phan at UFC on Fox 4 on August 4, 2012.[14] He lost the bout via split decision after three rounds.
Miller faced Sam Sicilia on January 15, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 35.[18] 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.[19]
On April 9, 2014, Miller announced his new four-fight contract with UFC via Twitter.[20]
Miller faced Jim Alers on December 19, 2015, at UFC on Fox 17.[24] 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.[25]
Miller was expected to face returning veteran B.J. Penn on June 4, 2016, at UFC 199, replacing an injured Dennis Siver.[26] However, Penn was removed from the card on May 23 after he was flagged for a potential anti-doping violation.[27] Miller instead faced Alex Caceres.[28] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[29]
Miller was expected to face Mizuto Hirota on October 15, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 97.[30] However, the promotion announced on October 6 that they had cancelled the event entirely.[31][32] In turn, the fight was rescheduled and eventually took place on December 17, 2016, at UFC on Fox 22[33] Miller lost the bout by unanimous decision.[34] Miller has since been removed from the roster page on the UFC's website.[35]
