Mark Miller (kickboxer)

American kickboxer (born 1971)

Mark "Fightshark" Miller

Born| Mark Jason Miller
(1971-09-17) September 17, 1971 (age 53)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other names| Fightshark
Nationality|  American
Height| 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight| 220 lb (100 kg; 16 st)
Division| Heavyweight
Style| Kickboxing, Muay Thai
Fighting out of| Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Team| Iron City Gym
Team Fightshark
Golden Glory
Trainer| Maurice Smith

Rob Kaman

Buddy McGirt
Years active| 1996-2012
Kickboxing record
Total| 24
Wins| 15
By knockout| 11
Losses| 8
Draws| 1

Last updated on: October 6, 2012

Mark Jason Miller[1] (born September 17, 1971) is a retired American kickboxer who competed in the heavyweight division. He is also a published author and artist.

## Biography and career

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### Early life

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Miller grew up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and became involved with martial arts through his love of Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris films. His father took him to a boxing gym at a young age, and he also practiced Tang Soo Do, Hapkido, and Taekwondo as a child and teenager. He began competing in amateur boxing at the age of 18.[2]

Miller graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in economics and political science in December 1993.

He later began Muay Thai and trained and fought in Thailand.[3]

### Career

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Mark Miller made his debut in the K-1 promotion in August 2000 at K-1 USA Championships 2000, where he lost to Tommy Glanville via unanimous decision, suffering his first loss as a professional. He re-matched with Glanville in May the following year at K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Preliminary USA, and avenged his loss with a split decision victory. He then took on Dewey Cooper in August 2001 at K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Las Vegas and lost by TKO in the 2nd round. In February 2002, he took part in the Grand Prix at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary North America and lost to Canada's Giuseppe DeNatale in the first round. This was to be his last bout in K-1.

In August 2006, Miller was set to compete in a bout for the S-1 Muay Thai promotion in Miami, Florida. However, he failed the Florida Athletic Commission's medical tests due to a heart condition. According to cardiologists, Miller had a 15% cardiac output due to a damaged aortic valve.[4] In September 2007, he had open heart surgery to replace his aortic valve to repair the condition.[5]

He made his return to the ring on May 28, 2011 at United Glory 14: 2010-2011 World Series Finals in Moscow, Russia against Nikolaj Falin. Miller knocked Falin out with a right hook nine seconds into the first round. Following this match, Miller joined the famous Golden Glory gym in the Netherlands.[6]

10 months later, again in Moscow, Russia he faced Sergei Kharitonov at United Glory 15 in a fight where he gave up 46 pounds. Despite a strong early start, he succumbed to a massive right hand at the end of the first round losing by KO.

He faced Koichi Pettas at Glory 2: Brussels on October 6, 2012 in Brussels, Belgium[7] and lost via KO in the second round.[8] Due to suffering kidney failure in 2013, this would end up being the final fight of his professional career.

## Kickboxing record

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Kickboxing record  15 Wins, 8 Losses, 1 Draw

Date  | Result  | Opponent | Event | Location  | Method | Round | Time
2012-10-06 | Loss |  Koichi Pettas | Glory 2: Brussels | Brussels, Belgium | KO (Right Cross) | 2 |
2012-03-23 | Loss |  Sergei Kharitonov | United Glory 15 | Moscow, Russia | KO (Right Hook) | 1 | 1:59
2011-05-28 | Win |  Nikolaj Falin | United Glory 14: 2010-2011 World Series Finals | Moscow, Russia | KO (right hook) | 1 | 0:09
2002-02-09 | Loss |  Giuseppe DeNatale | K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 Preliminary North America, Quarter Finals | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA | TKO | 2 | 2:07
2001-08-11 | Loss |  Dewey Cooper | K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Las Vegas | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | TKO | 2 |
2001-05-05 | Win |  Tommy Glanville | K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Preliminary USA | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | Decision (split) | 5 | 3:00
2000-08-05 | Loss |  Tommy Glanville | K-1 USA Championships 2000 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00
Legend:  Win  Loss  Draw/No contest  Notes

## Personal life

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Miller's memoir Pain Don't Hurt: Fighting Inside and Outside the Ring was published in July 2014 by Ecco Press, an imprint of HarperCollins curated by chef and author Anthony Bourdain. The book, co-written with Miller's girlfriend at the time, Shelby Jones, tells of his origins in a troubled family, heart surgery, struggles with addiction, and his kickboxing career. Kirkus Reviews described the book as "thoughtful but unsentimental" and "a force to be reckoned with".[9] As of 2024, the memoir has a 4.7 out of 5 in reviews on Amazon Books. Miller had successful kidney and pancreas transplants at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in June 2016.

## References

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1. ^ NSAC report of K-1 USA Championships 2000 Archived 2014-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ Mark Miller Bio and Photos Archived 2011-06-30 at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ Mark Miller and the Iron City Gym Archived 2011-05-17 at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ Finally, the Heart-Champ Makes His Return! Archived 2011-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
5. ^ HKL Exclusive with Mark "Fight Shark" Miller Part 1: Early Career and Heart Surgery
6. ^ Mark "Fightshark" Miller joins Team Golden Glory
7. ^ "Glory 2: Brussels final fight card for this Saturday". Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
8. ^ Glory 2: Brussels live results
9. ^ "PAIN Don't HURT | Kirkus Reviews".

## External links

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* Fighters Profile