Mayhem retires from fighting: ‘I feel like a weight is lifted’

Saturday night at UFC 146 Jason “Mayhem” Miller fought and lost against CB Dollaway. Now 0-3 in the UFC, he was released by the organization.

Moments ago, Mayhem appeared on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, and announced his retirement.

“Yeah, I said I would [retire] and so I am,” said Miller “I didn’t get the job done and that’s what I’m saying. I’m done for right now. Who knows what the future holds but at the same time, what’s the point?”

When asked if he was leaving to door open for a possible return at some point, Miller took a long pause, and then said we might as well slam it shut.

“I feel free in a weird way,” Mayhem continued. “Like in the strangest way, I feel free and I know that sounds strange when I’ve devoted my entire life to fighting, but I feel like my life is unlocked for a whole other set of adventures. I don’t feel the need to super-impress one person in particular, make them happy. I can focus on making myself happy and I don’t have the pressures of a commissioner chasing me around with a piss cup or the pressures of everyone verbally abusing me for my missteps via social media. I feel like a weight is lifted.”