Pat Miletich will be the next UFC Hall of Fame inductee

According to the online schedule for next weekend’s UFC Fan Expo in Las Vegas, former UFC welterweight champion, Pat Miletich (29-7-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC), will be the next man to join the hallowed halls of the UFC Hall of Fame.

“The Croatian Sensation’s” UFC Hall of Fame induction is slated for next Sunday, July 6, at 2:30 p.m. ET on the UFC Fan Expo’s main stage.

Miletich made his octagon debut in 1998 at UFC 16, where he won the promotions welterweight tournament, this by defeating Townsend Saunders and Chris Brennan in the same night.

At UFC 17.5 (also known as “UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil”), Miletich earned a split-decision victory over Mikey Burnett to become the UFC’s first-ever 170-pound champion. At that time, the title was known as the ‘lightweight championship,’ but it was later renamed the ‘welterweight title.’

Miletich went on to defend the title four times in the following years, scoring victories over Jorge Patino, Andre Pederneiras, John Alessio and Kenichi Yamamoto.

Miletich would eventually lose the title in 2001, when he was submitted by Carlos Newton at UFC 31 in New Jersey.

Pat would compete under the UFC banner for a final time in March of 2002, but was defeated by Matt Lindland in his final bout with the promotion.

Following the loss, Miletich would turn his concentrations to coaching/training. His Iowa camp, Miletich Fighting Systems, would eventually produce a number of MMA champions, including Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, Jens Pulver and Tim Sylvia.

Miletich would later serve as a coach on the now-defunct International Fight League (IFL), a team-based MMA promotion that debuted in 2006.

That same year, after a four-year layoff from fighting, Miletich would square off with fellow MMA veteran Renzo Gracie, where he ultimately suffered a submission loss at the “IFL 9” event.

Two years later, in his final pro fight at “IFL 11”, Miletich would knockout opponent Thomas Denny to put a stamp on his very impressive Mixed Martial Arts career.

Fans can now hear Pat on AXS TV Fights, where he calls the action alongside Michael “The Voice” Schiavello.

Congratulations to Pat Miletich on an amazing MMA career and his well deserved spot in the UFC’s Hall of Fame!