Pat Miletich also known as "The Croatian Sensation" is a
mixed martial artist (MMA), and a former world champion in both
lightweight and
welterweight. Miletich started training at the age of 26, at
Nick Tarpein's Martial Arts Center in
Iowa. Here, Miletich learned about
Kick Boxing,
Karate, and
Jiu Jitsu. Miletich's influence was his Uncle Johnny "Miller" Miletich who was a boxer in the
US Olympics in 1932. In 1995 a friend of Miletich got him into a
mixed martial arts tournament, called the Battle of the Masters in
Chicago. Miletich then continued fighting in small events where he was very successful. Miletich went undefeated for 15 fights until he lost to
Matt Hume. In 1998 Miletich won the
UFC lightweight tournament at UFC 16. Shortly after that fight in 2001 the
UFC changed their weight class limits making Miletich the
UFC welterweight champion. Miletich lost by submission, the
UFC welterweight title to
Carlos Newton in UFC 31 marking his first defeat in the
UFC. In 2002 Miletich decided to take some time off to recover from several injuries sustained in many fights. Miletich returned in September 2006 to fight
Renzo Gracie in an
International Fight League (IFL) super fight. Miletich lost the fight by submission while in the
guillotine choke. Miletich is founder of
Miletich Fighting System, which has trained some of the most talented and popular fighters in
mixed martial arts such as,
Matt Hughes,
Tim Sylvia, Jens Pulver and
Robbie Lawler. Miletich currently is the coach of the two-time
IFL champions, the
Quad City Silverbacks who defeated
Bas Rutten's team the
Los Angeles Anacondas in 2006.