Sherdog’s Top 10: Might Have Beens

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1. Phillip Miller

Rare is the fighter who exits mixed martial arts on his own terms, still at the top of his game. Rarer still is one who retires without ever having tasted defeat, because the sport has a way of humbling even the most accomplished of athletes. Such is the case of Miller, who went unbeaten in 16 professional fights during a three-year span from 2000 to 2003, earning notable victories against the likes of Jake Shields and Mark Weir.

However, it would be inaccurate to say Miller was not humbled in the combat arena. As he administered a brutal, three-round beating to Moacir Oliveira in what would turn out to be his final professional bout, Miller began to contemplate what it would feel like to be on the receiving end of a similar thrashing. Stick around long enough, and it would inevitably happen. Miller ultimately chose long-term health and well-being over wearing out his welcome.

“I was just hammering on that guy for three rounds,” Miller told Sherdog.com in 2009. “At the end of that fight he couldn’t even stand. As soon as he left the ring, he was just puking. … And I was just like, ‘You know what? I would have done the same thing if I was in his position.’ You know when you’ve got the personality that you’re just not going to quit.”

MMA had not yet become the lucrative endeavor it is now, but the two-time UFC veteran was on the verge of a breakthrough until a potential fight with Phil Baroni was scrapped due to money-related issues. Miller then chose to leave the Las Vegas-based promotion and had the eye-opening bout with Oliveira shortly thereafter, which prompted him to choose a career in law enforcement with the Los Angeles Police Department. Miller quit while he was ahead because, deep down, he knew would not quit if he was behind, even by a little bit.

“I’d never want to quit on a loss. I mean, I couldn’t,” Miller said. “Even if I lost a fight, I would have to come back and fight again. And then one wouldn’t do it. Then I’d be stuck in the cycle again. You can’t just go out on a loss.”