Cagewriter - UFC

With his job as a host for MTV's "Bully Beatdown," Jason "Mayhem" Miller has personally confronted bullies who torment the lives of the show's viewers. Now, he is pushing to end bullying on a broader scale, partnering with "We're Kickin' It," a national anti-bullying campaign to bring the message to children that bullying is not OK.

"I have a background where I grew up in a poor area where no kids had supervision, and I was bullied, so it spoke to me," Miller told Cagewriter.

He has brought Strikeforce aboard, including middleweight Scott Smith and heavyweight Daniel Cormier. The two spoke to children at a martial arts center in suburban Chicago and told Cagewriter why they chose to get involved.

"For me, I've got a couple of kids, and I coach junior high wrestling, and you can see there's a lot of kids who don't have the guidance," Smith said. "If we can get out there, and whether it's because we're good fighters or just adult role models, and it keeps them from bullying or picking on kids, we've done a good job."

Smith doesn't see a disconnect between what he does in the cage and a message against violence.

"Fighters are the exact opposite [of violent]. They're disciplined. We got into martial arts to learn how to defend ourselves. I'm the part owner of a gym, and the guys that come into learn how to fight so they can beat people up in bars? Those are the first guys to get weeded out. You've got to be disciplined to be a mixed martial artist."

"You don't know how to defend yourself as a kid," Cormier added. "You have to learn it. I didn't know how to defend myself as a kid until I learned how to wrestle. I finally figured out that when I wrestle, I win some, lose some, but if I can go out there and wrestle, why can't I stand up to some guy who is bullying me?"

Bullying has been in the headlines lately as a widespread problem in schools that can lead to other, bigger problems. Just this week, an Alabama school is investigating if bullying played a part in the suicide of a 12-year-old boy

For Miller, standing up to bullying and helping kids is the goal, not the by-product, of his fame.

"I work in my life not just for monetary rewards. I want fame so at some level I can influence change. I don't look at it just as, 'Oh, I want to be famous so I can hump girls.' I want to exert my influence in a good way."

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  1. Clint
    1. Posted by Clint Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:34 am EST

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    Bullying runs rampant in today's schools. Good article Maggie, I hope Mayhem / this new program make a dent and change some of the thinking in today's kids
  2. The One and Only Aaron
    2. Posted by The One and Only Aaron Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:37 am EST

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    Bully Beatdown = Justice!
  3. tdube09
    3. Posted by tdube09 Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:43 am EST

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    great blog. good to see that fighters are getting involved in the community and helping people out.
  4. Rob R
    4. Posted by Rob R Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:44 am EST

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    Maggie's on a pretty good roll.
    I'm starting to think she should be sent to cover events since she seems to get good interviews. AND she's been relaying them particularly well this week.
    Cofield...Where in God's name are your Vegas odds and picks?! Are you waiting for the weigh-in?
  5. David B
    5. Posted by David B Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:59 am EST

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    This is a great way for MMA to get in the public positive light . I think this is a great message to get out to the public. Go Mayhem , say no to bullying. This message has been expressed across the country in almost every elementary and jr. high in America. What better spokesperson could they ask for than a cage fighter. There is also another fighter working with kids for a good cause. Jens Pulver is working to fight against child abuse! I love the fact that MMA fighters are using their celebrity status to fight for a good cause!
  6. jason j
    6. Posted by jason j Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:12 am EST

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    Heres a video of it , Classy guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfhAJn4oD80
  7. jason j
    7. Posted by jason j Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:12 am EST

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    Heres a video of it , Classy guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfhAJn4oD80
  8. mikez34
    8. Posted by mikez34 Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:14 am EST

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    Sounds good. A lot of kids have no supervision or discipline so they just get in trouble. Kids have no filter and have to learn what's right and wrong, otherwise they will just cause trouble and do whatever they want. Taught correctly, martial arts don't contribute to violence.
  9. Caligulus
    9. Posted by Caligulus Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:25 am EST

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    Last line from Mayhem was great. I'll never forget that line from Charles Barkley about "I'm not a role model." DUDE getting famous means it's your chance to be one! But Maggie -------- did he really say HUMP? I don't know about that one!
  10. Instant Money
    10. Posted by Instant Money Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:28 am EST

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    Let's just hope Miller doesn't get bullied Saturday.
  11. Instant Money
    11. Posted by Instant Money Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:58 am EST

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    "jason j" that's 30 seconds of my life that I will never get back.
  12. Eli the Ace
    12. Posted by Eli the Ace Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:06 pm EST

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    Too bad jake shields is gonna beat him.
  13. JJ
    13. Posted by JJ Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:28 pm EST

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    I think Cofield's on vacation. UFC event isn't until next week. Nice article Maggie. Shields wasn't around at all for interviews? How about news on Hendo? If it's true that he has signed with SF, my guess is he will get 1st shot at Mousasi's belt. Does anybody know why Moose's fight with Soko is a non-title fight or has that question already been talked about?
  14. jayyolf1
    14. Posted by jayyolf1 Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:56 pm EST

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    This is a pretty cool story........wish some of those haters like McCain and Co. would hear about this. Another good article by Maggie........Cofield should takes notes
  15. Rob R
    15. Posted by Rob R Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:29 pm EST

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    Joe...Helwani's not Yahoo, I don't think. Pretty sure he's AOL or whatever that is now.
    JJ...Didn't know it was non-title. Is it a catchweight?! I can't imagine Soko would have had any licensing issues. Maybe he wasn't willing to sign long-term with SF, so they wouldn't put themselves in a situation where he wins the title and then has them over a barrel. Either way, very strange. Doesn't matter...Mousasi doesn't need 5 rounds to put him away.
  16. mathiasmorciglio
    16. Posted by mathiasmorciglio Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:54 pm EST

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    I love the last sentence! 'I don't look at it just as, 'Oh, I want to be famous so I can hump girls.' I think the key word there is JUST...
  17. karen.werekickinit
    17. Posted by karen.werekickinit Sat Nov 07, 2009 2:46 am EST

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    Great article Mags! Strike Force, Scott, Daniel, & Jason have been super supportive. Many of the other fighters want to get involved as well. Bullying can be "Kicked Out" with these guys "Kickin It" with us for this life altering child worthy Campaign!
    Karen
  18. Sandman
    18. Posted by Sandman Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:12 am EST

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    Miller is an awesome person. How can one not like the Bully show? It is 100X better than TUF. It is actually funny and involves poetic justice (i.e., justice as retribution).
  19. EvilGar
    19. Posted by EvilGar Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:38 pm EST

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    Bullying wouldn't be a problem if parents would teach their children that while everyone may be a little different, and some may seem "wierd" to you, that they are all people too, and should be respected as such. A little consideration could go a long ways in this society.
  20. Casey C
    20. Posted by Casey C Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:54 am EST

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    Mayhem Miller is a ignorant fool or jerk, Jake the life long Vegetarian Shields bullied him for picking on poor animals by wearing dog, cat, rabbit, mink, baby white seal and other FUR coats, look it up horrible animal abuses.
  21. Gary R
    21. Posted by Gary R Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:17 pm EST

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    # 13 jj it was a catch weight I think
  22. brandon
    22. Posted by brandon Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:02 am EST

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    MMA is an amazing way to get it across to bullies that it is not ok to push people around. Me and six other kids are trained MMA fighters at my school and we get into a bunch of trouble trying to protect kids from being bullied by kids about the size of full grown football players. Its not right so spread the word

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