Patrick Jay "The Croatian Sensation"
Miletich known as Pat Miletich (Miletić in Croatian) (born March 9, 1968
in Davenport, Iowa) from Bettendorf, Iowa is a mixed martial artist (MMA)
well known for his fights within the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
He is the founder of Miletich Fighting Systems, which trains some of the
most talented and popular fighters in MMA, such as former UFC
Welterweight champion Matt Hughes,
former UFC heavyweight champion "The Maine-iac"
Tim Sylvia, former UFC lightweight
champion Jens Pulver, and Robbie
Lawler.
Pat was born in Davenport, Iowa, the
youngest of 5 children (2 of his brothers are deceased). Miletich
wrestled and played football at Bettendorf High School. He is believed
to have begun wrestling at age six. Miletich said he wanted to be a
world champion in something and wrestling was something he was good at.
Although Pat originally planned to pursue football after graduating high
school, he eventually chose to wrestle in junior college. Shortly
thereafter, his mother became ill with heart problems, and Pat left
school to care for her. Pat has stated in past interviews that he
actually began fighting to help pay her bills.
Pat started his MMA training at an age of
26. He had previously trained in karate, kickboxing and boxing in
Davenport, mostly at Nick Tarpein's School of Martial Arts. Miletich
learned much of what he knows about kickboxing, karate, and juijitsu
from Nick Tarpein. Miletich was largely influenced in his boxing
aspirations by his uncle, Johnny "Miller" Miletich. Johnny Miletich was
a member of the U.S. boxing squad at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles
and also fought professionally. Pat Miletich trained with coach Alvino
Pe�a at the Davenport Boxing Club. A friend from Chicago who refereed
his kickboxing matches got him into a Renzo Gracie seminar. After
training in BJJ for a year, the same friend then got him into the
"Battle of the Masters", a MMA tournament held in Chicago in 1995. He
continued fighting at smaller events and enjoyed success. He was
undefeated through 15 fights before losing to Matt Hume. Three fights
later Pat fought in UFC 16 and won the first UFC Lightweight Tournament.
At UFC Brazil:Ultimate Brazil, Pat defeated Mikey Burnett to become the
first UFC Lightweight (under 200 lbs) Champion. The UFC changed the
weight class limits again in 2001 and Miletich became the champion of
the new welterweight division. In his fifth title defense (and first as
a welterweight) at UFC 31 he lost to Carlos Newton by submission. This
was his first defeat in the UFC. His next fight was a KO win over Shonie
Carter at UFC 32. After this fight, Pat moved up to the middleweight
division. This was partly due to encouragement by UFC management and
because his teammate Matt Hughes defeated Carlos Newton to win the UFC
Welterweight Championship. Pat returned to fight at his new weight at
UFC 36 but lost quickly to Matt Lindland. Miletich decided to take some
time away from professional fighting and recover from numerous chronic
injuries. Miletich was scheduled to fight Frank Trigg at WFA 3 but
pulled out due to injury.
Currently, Pat Miletich is the coach of the two-time International Fight
League champions, the Silverbacks. In the first national broadcast on
May 21, 2006, Pat's team beat Bas Rutten's Anacondas 4-1.
Miletich holds a 3rd degree black belt in Shuri-ryu karate. Pat has also
trained with Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Sergio Monteiro and was
awarded his BJJ black belt by Oswaldo Alves. Pat is the cousin to Danny
Farmar, a former wide receiver for the UCLA Bruins football team who
enjoyed a brief career in the NFL.
Nick Name: The Crotian Sensation
Weight Class: Welter Weight
DOB: 3/9/68
Height: 5.10
Weight: 169 lbs
Style:
MMA Record: 28-7-2
UFC History:
-
UFC 16 (3/13/98) - Miletich
defeated Townsend Saunders
Split decision in the First Round. Miletich Defeated Chris Brennan by
Submission at 9:01 in the First Round.
-
UFC Brazil (10/16/98) -
Miletich defeated Mikey Burnett to become UFC's Lightweight
Champion.
-
UFC 21 (7/16/99) - Miletich
defeated Andre Pederneiras by TKO at 2:20 in the First Round.
-
UFC 26 (6/9/00) - Miletich
defeated John Alessio by Submission at 1:43 in the First Round.
-
UFC 29 (12/16/00) - Miletich
defeated Kenichi Yamamoto by Submission at 1:57 in the Second Round
-
UFC 31
(5/4/01) - Miletich lost
to Carlos Newton
by Submission at 2:50 in the Third Round. Lost the championship
belt.
-
UFC 32 (6/29/01) - Miletich
defeated Shonie Carter by
KO at 2:42 in the Second Round
-
UFC 36
(3/22/02) - Miletich lost
to Matt Lindland by TKO at 3:09 in the First Round.
Official Website:
www.mfselite.com