Coker thinks signing Jason 'Mayhem' Miller is 'worth a conversation'

To say that Jason Miller has had his ups and downs over the years, would be putting it mildly. The man more often known as 'Mayhem' has fought for titles under Dream and Strikeforce, gone through two inglorious stints in the UFC, and generally competed at a high level over a 14 year career that ended with his UFC release in 2012. Outside the cage, however, he's been a mess.

Following his UFC release, Miller was involved in several ugly legal incidents. In 2012 he was arrested under suspicion of burglary, after being found naked in his local church. Charges were dropped after the pastor, came forward in Miller's defense. But it was in 2013 when things really went down hill. Miller was arrested again, this time under charges of domestic abuse. He would be arrested two more times that year. Once, on a new set of abuse charges related to his initial confrontation and then again, in October of 2013, for violating a restraining order. Shortly afterward, he had a very public altercation with Urijah Hall.

Since October of last year, however, things have been quieter for Miller. He was brought in as a training partner for Quinton Jackson in Jackson's preparation for Bellator 120. Perhaps its that lowered profile that has Coker considering bringing Miller into the Bellator fold. As he told Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour. (Transcript via MMA Fighting)

"That takes me right back to the CBS events. Boy, I'm starting to shake over here," Coker said at the mention of Miller's name.

"You know, I'll tell you, it's worth a conversation, because everybody deserves to have a second chance. He's a great fighter, believe me. I just hope he's okay. And if he's okay, then we can take a more serious step. But the first step would be, you know, is he okay? That's really what it comes down to."

Bellator has always held a place for fighters with a complicated legal history, as did Strikeforce. While they were quick to cut ties with John Koppenhaver after the horrific assault allegations leveled against him, it appears that that move may not signify a larger shift in company policy.