TUF: Meet the Fighters Part 2

Billy Miles, a Youth Correctional Counselor in California, took up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu after watching UFC superstar Tito Ortiz excel in the Octagon. A wrestling star in both high school and at Sierra College and Sacramento State, Miles was an Academic All American in college and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Sacramento State and his Master’s from Chapman University.

Miles took a break from competitive sports after graduating college and developed his body through weight training. He eventually became enamored with the sport of MMA and began training and competing in local tournaments.

While on The Ultimate Fighter, Billy would like to work on all aspects of his MMA repertoire, but feels that his wrestling skills are strong and says that he will stand up and trade blows with anyone. Billy looks forward to the six weeks at the house, but mentions that he will miss spending time with his 20-month old son, Matt.

An avid music fan, his taste is very eclectic as he lists everything from Johnny Cash to 50 Cent to techno music.

Roman Mitichyan is not your usual MMA fighter. Born in the Republic of Armenia, he moved to Los Angeles in 2000, via Moscow, to pursue a career in acting. Among Roman’s acting credits include appearing in the CBS show Numbers. However, Roman’s MMA game is not an act. Roman studied Sambo/Judo, the same style as UFC fighter Andrei Arlovski and the renowned Fedor Emelianenko. Now a member of Team Hayastan, Roman trains under Gokor Chivichyan and with The Ultimate Fighter 5 runner-up Manny Gamburyan.

Roman looks forward to improving his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and standup ability while training at the house. Roman would like to stay professional throughout the 6 weeks and hopes that the fraternity atmosphere in the house does not affect his training.

A fan of legendary director Martin Scorsese, Roman lists Ronin and Gangs of New York as his favorite movies. His mother and grandma, unaware of his MMA exploits, are in the dark with his appearance on the show. He hopes to make a name for himself in the Octagon and become the next Ultimate Fighter.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Dorian focused his time and energy into escaping the dangerous streets surrounding him. Dorian, determined to make a better life for himself, entered into Avon O’ Farms school in Connecticut where he blossomed into a star athlete and scholar. Upon graduating in 1995, Dorian enrolled in Hampton University where he began training in Muay Thai, his first introduction into MMA.

After graduating Hampton, Dorian moved to Columbus to attend graduate school at Ohio State University where he ultimately attained his MBA in 2005. In Ohio he began to train full time in MMA and recently has added Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to his game.

While at the house, Dorian would like to improve on all aspects of his fighting, but would like to focus mainly on his take striking, Muay Thai boxing, take-down defense, and ground game. Dorian admires all fighters that have competed in the UFC because they “are where I want to be.”

An Orlando native, Ben enters the house with six professional fights under his belt and currently trains with the legendary American Top Team. Ben began training Martial Arts at a young age as he studied Tae Kwon Do and at the age of 13, picked up Gi Kun Do. Saunders’s first introduction into the UFC organization came in 1993 when he noticed an advertisement in Black Belt Magazine promoting the UFC and the sport of MMA. Ben became an immediate fan, emulating some of his favorite UFC fighters.

While at the house, Ben would like to improve his entire repertoire, but will focus on strengthening his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and striking ability. Ben notes living in the house will begin to wear on each fighter as the weeks drag on and the tension grows, but feels his time away from friends, family, and a viable information outlet with be the toughest part.

Living and training for six weeks in Las Vegas won’t be too bad for Joe Scarola – as a member of Matt Serra’s Serra Jitsu Academy on Long Island, he’ll be seeing familiar faces in the desert including Serra, Pete “Drago” Sell and Ray Longo. Scarola’s introduction to martial arts came at a young age, as he began karate lessons at five years old. After graduating from East Meadow High School in 1997, he took up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the tutelage of Serra, and in 2005 he became Serra’s first student to earn a black belt in the discipline. Despite his long history with Serra, Scarola is open to learning from either coach as well as his housemates, though he obviously has a coaching preference.

In East Meadow, Scarola teaches Jiu Jistu at Serra’s gym, and lives with his girlfriend. A movie buff, he lists The Last Samurai, Troy and Zoolander as his favorites.

As a child in Australia this self described thrill seeker, was always looking for his next rush. George competed in several sports such as Australian Rules Football, cricket, mountain biking, and karate, however it wasn’t until he found the UFC that he found his fix. He began to train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at a local club and realized that MMA is what he would like to train. Focused on this goal, he has come to the United States to compete and to become the next Ultimate Fighter.

George would like to follow in the mold of UFC legend Frank Shamrock, who he considers to be the prototype fighter. George feels the most difficult part in living in the house with 15 other fighters will be the meshing of all the different personalities.

George lists cinematic classics Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and the Godfather franchise as his favorite movies.

A 2003 graduate of Elgin Melville High School in rural Minnesota, Speer was an all-state cornerback for the football team, played basketball four years at the varsity level, and made nationals as a wrestler his senior year. Upon graduating, Speer kept up with his wrestling, and decided to enter the MMA arena by working out with Fourth St. Boxing and Mario Roberto Jiu Jitsu in Rochester, Minnesota. He made his professional debut in 2005 and most recently fought in the WEC.

Growing up on a crop and dairy farm in Minnesota, Tommy Speer has spent most of his life helping out his father and brother with the family business. He has left them temporarily to pursue his dream of becoming The Ultimate Fighter in Las Vegas, and leaving them shorthanded was a very difficult decision to make. In the end, it was an opportunity he could not afford to pass up, and he looks to significantly improve his standup and conditioning techniques while there.

Away from the gym, Speer is a diehard Vikings fan, and also roots for the Timberwolves, citing Kevin Garnett as his favorite player. He is a Die Hard Bruce Willis fan, and enjoys the musical stylings of Linkin Park and Fort Minor.